Pay attention now - 100% performance possible with BioNTech, Bayer, Cardiol Therapeutics or HelloFresh

BioNTech versus Bayer - Where is it worth investing?

There are currently two major problem children in the German biotech sector. There are significant question marks on the faces of Bayer analysts, who have been constantly revising their price targets downward for months. Most recently, there was a "shock lawsuit" in the US for USD 2 billion concerning glyphosate-related illnesses. Bayer then had to report a fall in profits in the pharmaceuticals division, and, most recently, the dividend of EUR 2.40, which was considered a certainty, was slashed to just 11 cents.

Only 3 out of 24 analysts now have the confidence to issue a "Buy" recommendation, and the 12-month price expectation has fallen from just under EUR 80 in mid-2023 to the current EUR 34.50. Since the Monsanto takeover, EUR 100 billion in valuation has been wiped out. There are now increasing calls for a group split, with the Crop Science division taking on the debt from the Monsanto takeover. According to Adam Riese, this is not possible from today's perspective because Bayer is only keeping the Company alive with its still profitable pharmaceuticals division. Fitch has already lowered its long-term rating to BBB+, and legal options under the Texas partial insolvency law are now being examined. However, the US companies 3M and Johnson & Johnson have already failed with this approach. Bayer is only for speculative investors, as the problems could worsen.

Things look better for BioNTech shares. The lawsuits in connection with the controversial coronavirus vaccinations never really came to light. Nevertheless, investors are wondering why the innovative company from Mainz is not getting anywhere. Investors should receive clarification on March 20, when the balance sheet for 2023 is presented. CEO Ugur Sahin will then certainly also look to the future and reveal his options for using the EUR 17 billion in cash. Given the never-ending sideways downward trend, long-term investors may even want a distribution of the historical profits generated by the coronavirus vaccination. In order to sweep these desires off the table, management should provide a tangible outlook for growth. Only 50% of the experts on the Refinitiv Eikon platform still give a "Buy" recommendation with an average price expectation of EUR 108. Exciting!

Cardiol Therapeutics - Will the rally continue?

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. has been developing its promising drug candidate, CardiolRx™, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With its oral solution formulation, the Company is on track to helping people around the world who suffer from recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis. CardiolRx™ blocks the activation of the inflammasome signalling pathway, which plays an important role in inflammation and fibrosis associated with pericarditis, myocarditis, and heart failure. For years, therapeutic options have been sought after to alleviate the suffering of those affected by these rare diseases, with little progress. In February, the Canadian company received Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they recently announced the completed recruitment of their Phase II clinical trial in recurrent pericarditis, with results expected as early as the second quarter of 2024.

CRDL shares are highly interesting, as they traded below book value no less than 6 months ago. In October 2023, however, the market shook off its lethargy, and the share price rose rapidly from around CAD 1.00 to CAD 2.90. A tripling in the biotech sector is a rarity and only really takes place when the Company can present significant progress. Experts now see CardiolRx™ as having the potential to provide a more effective and significantly cheaper treatment alternative to conventional methods for dangerous heart diseases. The first step towards revaluation has now been taken, with analysts on the Refinitiv Eikon platform predicting a further 100% increase in the share price over the next 12 months. With corresponding study results, however, this does not have to be the end of the story.

HelloFresh - Back to reality

The MDAX-listed company HelloFresh is coming under further pressure due to a decline in the number of active customers and the announcement that it is withdrawing its medium-term targets. The Company has reacted and wants to focus on new performance indicators in future to regain investor confidence. The positive swing is to be achieved through efficiency improvements and a reduction in expenditure. In Q4 of last year, the meal kit provider recorded a 6.5% decline in active customers compared to the same period in the previous year. However, this figure is likely misunderstood on the market; in future, the focus will now shift to metrics such as the number of orders or the average order value. According to CFO Christian Gärtner, these are much more meaningful indicators for real company growth.

The share took a dive for the time being and is now below the IPO price from 2017. Since reaching its peak around EUR 94, the share has fallen by a staggering 90%. On the Refinitiv Eikon platform, only 9 out of 23 experts still vote to "Buy". The average price expectation is EUR 9.80. However, not all analysts have adjusted their forecasts following the latest publication. It is advisable to let the share price settle for a while, but the stock is only suitable for risk-conscious turnaround speculators.

The stock market gives and takes. Selection has been the trump card, especially since the beginning of 2024. While IT and AI-heavy companies are igniting a veritable bubble, meal-kit delivery company HelloFresh is currently doing very poorly. BioNTech and Bayer are still trading in the lower valuation band on a 12-month view, but the situation is different for Cardiol Therapeutics! The Company, with ample cash on its balance sheet, is solidly positioned and is performing exceptionally well in an overall weak sector. The story should provide a lot of excitement in the medium term.