GSK Pharma: Near term headwinds may keep stock prices under pressure

April sales were the worst among top drug players

The GlaxoSmithKline Pharma (GSK Pharma) stock has dipped 7 per cent from its May highs, on worries that lower incidence of acute infections could lead to a fall in sales. Some brokerages have downgraded the stock due to a weak near-term outlook. 

Vinay Bafna and Sriraam Rathi of ICICI Securities have reduced their net profit estimates for FY21 and FY22 by 12-14 per cent, factoring in the near-term pressure caused by Covid-19, adoption of a healthier lifestyle, and social distancing that will affect acute therapy sales.  

Worries on the acute therapy front arise from the April show. GSK was the