Valeant: I Was Serious - The Clock Is Ticking
Dec.19.17 | About:
Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX)

Michael Wiggins De Oliveira
Long only, value, contrarian
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Summary
Valeant is markedly less risky than it was a short year ago, and likely to return to growth in 2019.
Debt profile is more diversified and controllable.
Its valuation remains unreasonably cheap; long-term investors will benefit the most.
Investment Thesis
In December 2016, I wrote an article entitled 'Valeant Is A Great Investment To Start 2017'. In that article, I opened it by stating the following,
I will ask you to do the most difficult thing investors are asked to do:
put your emotions aside and ignore everything you know or think you know about Valeant (
VRX) and simply focus on the facts and figures from its financials.
On that day, the stock traded at just under $15 per share and I concluded that article by saying,
Although VRX will continue to suffer from negative press and investor stigma over the next 12-18 months, in time, investors will return to the stock.
I expect an appreciation on this stock of at least 70% over the next two years.
And although Valeant's shares have rallied a little in the past several weeks, and are nicely positive from the $15 per share when I originally recommended investing in it, in the past twelve months, I have seen Valeant's share fall by nearly 50%. However, today, I genuinely believe that Valeant is a significantly less risky investment that it was back in December 2016.
Pipeline
Presently Valeant's pipeline is relatively slim. Valeant's pipeline is predominantly focused on two main drugs: VYZULTA and IDP-118.
VYZULTA is used to treat open-angle glaucoma. Its long
awaited commercial launch finally arrived on Monday, Valeant released a press statement notifying stakeholders that U.S. wholesale pharmacies should expect the drug immanently. This innovative drug will fit under its eye medicine portfolio as part of B+L's segment.
The other drug, for which Valeant has big hopes, is IDP-118, a topical location for the treatment of plaque psoriasis, with a provisional launch date of June 2018.
Additionally, while less meaningful in absolute terms, however still important for Valeant's overall strategy, are Valeant's efforts at solidifying its leading market-share in Asia. Recently it has embarked on the launches of two contact lens products, directly under its B+L segment. More specifically, its launch of AQUALOX contact lenses in Japan, earlier in September. As well as in China, currently under review, are its
ULTRA contact lenses. Thus, while Valeant benefited from 50 product launches during 2017, which boosted its free cash flow during 2017, only a hand full are expected to be launched in 2018 - leaving investors anxious as they await its 2018 guidance