Divis Laboratories on strong growth trend, experts expect margins to expand

Strong demand for active ingredients is further accentuated by shortages even as prospects in custom synthesis business remain firm

Divis Laboratories is trading near its all-time high and has returned about 38 per cent to investors in the last six months. The firm remains an exporter of generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (about 56 per cent of FY18 revenues) and custom synthesis (CRAMS, about 44 per cent of FY18 revenues). It has continued to benefit from strong demand for both.

Demand for the ingredients is further helped by Chinese supply constraints, favourable currency movement, and certain product shortages in the US market. The custom synthesis business prospects also remain firm, considering the increased competitive intensity from global pharmaceutical firms that are