Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Beximco Pharma Limited witnessed the highest market participation on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) last week that ended on Thursday.
Some 10.21 million shares of the company worth BDT 856 million changed hands on the prime bourse last week.
Share price of the company closed at BDT 85.8 on Thursday, registering an increase of 5.15 percent over the previous week.
“The recent news of least developed countries’ (LDC) exemption from paying patent drugs royalty till 2032 might have attracted the investors to take position in pharmaceuticals stocks in recent times,” said an analyst.
Besides, US Food and Drug Administration’s recent approval to Beximco Pharma and Square Pharma also encouraged the investors to focus in pharma stocks, he said.
Beximco Pharma, which produces generic drug, was listed on the Dhaka bourse in 1986. The pharma and chemical sector company belongs to the category of “A”.
As per un-audited third quarter (July-September, 2015) financial reports, the company’s earning per share (EPS) stood at BDT 1.09 as against BDT 1.11 for the same period in 2014.
Nine months (January-September, 2015) EPS was BDT 3.70 as against BDT 2.99 for the same period in 2014.
The board of directors of the company distributed 10 percent cash dividend and 5.0 percent stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. In 2013, the company also disbursed 10 percent cash dividend and 5.0 percent stock dividend
According to DSE website, Beximco Pharma’s paid-up capital is BDT 3,862.4 million and authorized capital is BDT 9,100 million while total number of securities is 386,244,234.
Of the total shares - sponsor-directors own 13.15 percent, institutions 15.21 percent, foreign investors 25.29 percent and public 46.35 percent.
Beximco Pharma, which started commercial production in 1980, is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical finished formulation products, large volume parenterals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), according to company’s website.
Beximco Pharma was followed by Square Pharma BDT 617 million, Quasem Tk 592 million, Regent Textile BDT 471 million, Delta Life Insurance BDT 361 million and BSRM Steels BDT 292 million.
Lafarge Surma Cement also came to the top ten turnover list with shares of BDT 284 million changing hands followed by Saif Powertec BDT 280 million, Aftab Automobiles BDT 221 million and KDS Accessories BDT 214 million.
Among the top ten turnover companies, share prices of Regent Textile, Delta Life BSRM Steels, Lafarge Surma, Aftab Automobiles and KDS Accessories declined while Beximco Pharma, Square Pharma, Quasem Drycells and Saif Powertec appreciated.
BBN/SSR/AD