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Medical Tourism, Aging Thais Create $13 Billion Hospital Empire

Medical Tourism, Aging Thais Create $13 Billion Hospital Empire

(Bloomberg) -- A Thai hospital operator’s shares have surged so much this year that it’s now the most-valuable such business in any emerging market.

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Pcl’s shares have risen 29 percent in 2018, supported by rising demand from Thailand’s aging population as well as an increase in medical tourism. That pushed its market value to $13 billion, surpassing Malaysia’s IHH Healthcare Bhd., to take the mantle of largest developing-nation company in the industry.

And despite the rally, investors believe the shares have further room to rise.

“The inadequacies of public healthcare will continue to bolster the earnings growth of Bangkok Dusit” as Thailand’s population ages, said Adithep Vanabriksha, Bangkok-based chief investment officer of Aberdeen Standard Investments.

Medical Tourism, Aging Thais Create $13 Billion Hospital Empire

According to the United Nations, the number of Thais aged 60 or over will more than double to 23 million by 2050, or about 37 percent of the nation’s projected population. That’s straining the country’s government-managed medical facilities, providing more incentives for private operators.

Meanwhile, the country has become the top destination in Asia for medical tourism, owing to its high-quality treatment with reasonable prices as well as many attractions. Bangkok Dusit’s revenue from foreign patients accounted for almost one-third of sales after rising 10 percent in the first half of 2018 from a year ago, according to KT Zmico Securities Co. The four largest markets were Japan, China, the U.K. and Myanmar. Growth from China was 30 percent in the same period.

Perhaps the stock’s rally isn’t surprising since the company’s chief executive officer also controls an airline and airport, and Thailand is on track for a record influx of foreign tourists in 2018. Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth is a doctor who has also developed a tourism empire that includes Bangkok Airways Pcl and Samui Island’s international airport. That expertise in travel, logistics and demographics is paying off as the country copes with more elderly and draws more tourists.

Bangkok Dusit operates 45 hospitals under six brands in Thailand with a combined 8,000 beds. Much of its expansion has come through acquisitions, including hospitals and "wellness centers" in resort hubs such as Phuket and Samui. The company’s shares are poised for their fifth straight quarterly gain, the longest rally since 2013.

Still, Bangkok Dusit trades at 39 times of 12-month estimated earnings, exceeding its average of 34 times in the past five years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s more than double the valuation of the benchmark SET Index, which trades at a 15 multiple.

The market’s high expectations for the company’s earnings growth isn’t a good sign and investors should wait for good valuations before buying the stock, Bualuang Securities Pcl said in a Aug. 21 note.

Among securities firms surveyed by Bloomberg, the company has 20 buy ratings, 10 hold and one sell recommendations. The consensus 12-month target price of 28.39 baht is 5.1 percent above Tuesday’s close.

--With assistance from Cecile Vannucci and Sunil Jagtiani.

To contact the reporters on this story: Anuchit Nguyen in Bangkok at anguyen@bloomberg.net;Lee Miller in Bangkok at lmiller@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Divya Balji at dbalji1@bloomberg.net, Tom Redmond

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.