BioNTech, Sativa Wellness, Merck KGaA - Impressive trend

BioNTech - Plenty of potential

The latest figures from the Robert Koch Institute show the potential of the vaccine manufacturers' business. According to these figures, only 55.6 million people in Germany have been fully vaccinated. This number corresponds to 66.9% of the population in the Federal Republic. Of these, only 2.4 million people have received a booster vaccination. This topic is likely to represent another significant revenue driver for BioNTech. It is true that the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) has so far recommended booster vaccinations for people aged 70 and over. A decision on whether booster vaccinations should be offered to everyone is therefore likely to follow soon.

Another target group is children between the ages of five and eleven. Good news is now coming from the United States, where BioNTech and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty has now received the expected approval of a health authority expert panel, following emergency approval. As of now, the vaccination campaign for nearly 30 million children in the US can begin. In addition to the US, BioNTech and Pfizer have applied for approval of their Corona vaccine for children in Europe in the middle of last month. The EU Medicines Agency (EMA) is expected to come up with a decision soon.

The stock is currently trading at around USD 295.00, and a breakout above the USD 304.15 level would generate potential to around USD 340.00. Given the above-mentioned next steps, little should stand in the way of a renewed bull run.

Sativa Wellness - Wide range

With the legalization of cannabis in several states, the industry faces a prosperous future in the coming years. Add to that the fact that products centered around the cannabis plant will occupy the billion-dollar health and recreational sectors in the next wave. Sativa Wellness, a Canadian company with operations in the UK, plans to become one of the big players in producing and distributing high-quality CBD products and CBD services in Europe.

In doing so, Sativa Wellness' business model stands on three legs that run entirely separately from each other. Under Goodbody Botanicals, CBD products developed on a gold standard basis are produced for the end consumer. In a strictly regulated European health segment, PhytoVista has also become one of the top three CBD and hemp testing laboratories on the continent. The third brand, Goodbody Wellness, offers testing services for clinics and direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business services via a telemedicine consulting service.

The opening of the 70th Goodbody clinic was announced here. The "Virtual GP Service" offers all of its customers the ability to follow up on their wellness test results with a virtual medical consultation. Now the plan is to develop a portfolio of private healthcare services. With the rapidly growing network of clinics, access to physician consultations is the next logical step in offering a complete wellness solution.

After a management change and complete realignment, the new structure is already taking full effect. Sales exploded by 828% to EUR 4.17 million in the second quarter compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit increased by 804% to EUR 2.29 million compared to the same quarter in 2020. The gross margin here was 55%. Sativa is on a good path and is setting an impressive pace to significantly increase the currently still manageable stock market value of EUR 16.48 million.

Merck - The vaccine profiteer

Even in the BioNTech haze, companies can continue to profit due to the Corona pandemic. The following success story comes from Darmstadt, where Merck KGaA is based. The DAX-listed Company works closely with BioNTech and supplies urgently needed lipids to Mainz. The lipids are used in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and are essential for the drug release of mRNA therapeutics in the body. They enable a vaccine to exert its effect.

Based on the solid third quarter, the pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals group has raised its full-year forecasts again. The last increase in the outlook was in August of this year. Full-year sales are expected to grow from EUR 19.30 billion to EUR 19.85 billion, up from EUR 17.5 billion in 2020. Previous estimates were EUR 18.80 billion to EUR 19.70 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization adjusted for special items are expected to grow from EUR 5.2 billion in the previous year to EUR 6.0 to 6.3 billion. The previous forecast was EUR 5.6 to 6.0 billion.

The full set of figures for the Darmstadt-based Company will be published on November 11. Following the figures, the British investment bank Barclays took the floor and reiterated its "overweight" rating with a target price of EUR 215.

The pandemic will accompany society for a while yet. Booster vaccinations provide recurring revenue for vaccine makers such as BioNTech and those around them such as pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals group Merck. The CBD market is growing rapidly. The Sativa Wellness Group is well-positioned in this regard and has long-term potential.