Morgan Stanley initiates coverage on pharma players, bullish only on Sun Pharma

Morgan Stanley sees earnings growth in the pharma sector moderating in FY25–27, though robust balance sheets could support investments in high-growth areas.

‘);
$(‘#lastUpdated_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘lastupdate’]);

//if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] > 0){
// $(‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“redtxt”).addClass(“greentxt”);
// $(‘.arw_red’).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”);
//}else if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] < 0){
// $(‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“greentxt”).addClass(“redtxt”);
// $(‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”);
//}
if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] >= 0){
$(‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“redtxt”).addClass(“greentxt”);
//$(‘.arw_red’).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”);
$(‘#gainlosstxt_’+articleId).find(“.arw_red”).removeClass(“arw_red”).addClass(“arw_green”);
}else if(resData[stkKey][‘percentchange’] < 0){
$(‘#greentxt_’+articleId).removeClass(“greentxt”).addClass(“redtxt”);
//$(‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”);
$(‘#gainlosstxt_’+articleId).find(‘.arw_green’).removeClass(“arw_green”).addClass(“arw_red”);
}

$(‘#volumetxt_’+articleId).show();
$(‘#vlmtxt_’+articleId).show();
$(‘#stkvol_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘volume’]);
$(‘#td-low_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘daylow’]);
$(‘#td-high_’+articleId).text(resData[stkKey][‘dayhigh’]);
$(‘#rightcol_’+articleId).show();
}else{
$(‘#volumetxt_’+articleId).hide();
$(‘#vlmtxt_’+articleId).hide();
$(‘#stkvol_’+articleId).text(”);
$(‘#td-low_’+articleId).text(”);
$(‘#td-high_’+articleId).text(”);
$(‘#rightcol_’+articleId).hide();
}
$(‘#stk-graph_’+articleId).attr(‘src’,’//appfeeds.moneycontrol.com/jsonapi/stocks/graph&format=json&watch_app=true&range=1d&type=area&ex=’+stockType+’&sc_id=’+stockId+’&width=157&height=100&source=web’);
}
}
}
});
}

$(‘.bseliveselectbox’).click(function(){
$(‘.bselivelist’).show();
});

function bindClicksForDropdown(articleId){
$(‘ul#stockwidgettabs_’+articleId+’ li’).click(function(){
stkId = jQuery.trim($(this).find(‘a’).attr(‘stkid’));

$(‘ul#stockwidgettabs_’+articleId+’ li’).find(‘a’).removeClass(‘active’);
$(this).find(‘a’).addClass(‘active’);
stockWidget(‘N’,stkId,articleId);
});
$(‘#stk-b-‘+articleId).click(function(){
stkId = jQuery.trim($(this).attr(‘stkId’));
stockWidget(‘B’,stkId,articleId);
$(‘.bselivelist’).hide();
});
$(‘#stk-n-‘+articleId).click(function(){
stkId = jQuery.trim($(this).attr(‘stkId’));
stockWidget(‘N’,stkId,articleId);
$(‘.bselivelist’).hide();
});
}

$(“.bselivelist”).focusout(function(){
$(“.bselivelist”).hide(); //hide the results
});

function bindMenuClicks(articleId){

$(‘#watchlist-‘+articleId).click(function(){
var stkId = $(this).attr(‘stkId’);
overlayPopupWatchlist(0,2,1,stkId);
});
$(‘#portfolio-‘+articleId).click(function(){
var dispId = $(this).attr(‘dispId’);
pcSavePort(0,1,dispId);
});
}

$(‘.mc-modal-close’).on(‘click’,function(){
$(‘.mc-modal-wrap’).css(‘display’,’none’);
$(‘.mc-modal’).removeClass(‘success’);
$(‘.mc-modal’).removeClass(‘error’);
});
function overlayPopupWatchlist(e, t, n,stkId) {
$(‘.srch_bx’).css(‘z-index’,’999′);
typparam1 = n;
if(readCookie(‘nnmc’))
{
var lastRsrs =new Array();
lastRsrs[e]= stkId;
if(lastRsrs.length > 0)
{
var resStr=”;
let secglbVar = 1;
var url = ‘//www.moneycontrol.com/mccode/common/saveWatchlist.php’;
$.get( “//www.moneycontrol.com/mccode/common/rhsdata.html”, function( data ) {
$(‘#backInner1_rhsPop’).html(data);
$.ajax({url:url,
type:”POST”,
dataType:”json”,
data:{q_f:typparam1,wSec:secglbVar,wArray:lastRsrs},
success:function(d)
{
if(typparam1==’1′) // rhs
{
var appndStr=”;
//var newappndStr = makeMiddleRDivNew(d);
//appndStr = newappndStr[0];
var titStr=”;var editw=”;
var typevar=”;
var pparr= new Array(‘Monitoring your investments regularly is important.’,’Add your transaction details to monitor your stock`s performance.’,’You can also track your Transaction History and Capital Gains.’);
var phead =’Why add to Portfolio?’;
if(secglbVar ==1)
{
var stkdtxt=’this stock’;
var fltxt=’ it ‘;
typevar =’Stock ‘;
if(lastRsrs.length>1){
stkdtxt=’these stocks’;
typevar =’Stocks ‘;fltxt=’ them ‘;
}

}

//var popretStr =lvPOPRHS(phead,pparr);
//$(‘#poprhsAdd’).html(popretStr);
//$(‘.btmbgnwr’).show();
var tickTxt =’‘;
if(typparam1==1)
{
var modalContent = ‘Watchlist has been updated successfully.’;
var modalStatus = ‘success’; //if error, use ‘error’

$(‘.mc-modal-content’).text(modalContent);
$(‘.mc-modal-wrap’).css(‘display’,’flex’);
$(‘.mc-modal’).addClass(modalStatus);

//var existsFlag=$.inArray(‘added’,newappndStr[1]);
//$(‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’ to your watchlist’);
//if(existsFlag == -1)
//{
// if(lastRsrs.length > 1)
// $(‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’already exist in your watchlist’);
// else
// $(‘#toptitleTXT’).html(tickTxt+typevar+’already exists in your watchlist’);
//
//}
}

//$(‘.accdiv’).html(”);
//$(‘.accdiv’).html(appndStr);
}
},
//complete:function(d){
// if(typparam1==1)
// {
// watchlist_popup(‘open’);
// }
//}
});
});
}
else
{
var disNam =’stock’;
if($(‘#impact_option’).html()==’STOCKS’)
disNam =’stock’;
if($(‘#impact_option’).html()==’MUTUAL FUNDS’)
disNam =’mutual fund’;
if($(‘#impact_option’).html()==’COMMODITIES’)
disNam =’commodity’;

alert(‘Please select at least one ‘+disNam);
}
}
else
{
AFTERLOGINCALLBACK = ‘overlayPopup(‘+e+’, ‘+t+’, ‘+n+’)’;
commonPopRHS();
/*work_div = 1;
typparam = t;
typparam1 = n;
check_login_pop(1)*/
}
}

function pcSavePort(param,call_pg,dispId)
{
var adtxt=”;
if(readCookie(‘nnmc’)){
if(call_pg == “2”)
{
pass_sec = 2;
}
else
{
pass_sec = 1;
}
var postfolio_url = ‘https://www.moneycontrol.com/portfolio_new/add_stocks_multi.php?id=’+dispId;
window.open(postfolio_url, ‘_blank’);
} else
{
AFTERLOGINCALLBACK = ‘pcSavePort(‘+param+’, ‘+call_pg+’, ‘+dispId+’)’;
commonPopRHS();
/*work_div = 1;
typparam = t;
typparam1 = n;
check_login_pop(1)*/
}

}

function commonPopRHS(e) {
/*var t = ($(window).height() – $(“#” + e).height()) / 2 + $(window).scrollTop();
var n = ($(window).width() – $(“#” + e).width()) / 2 + $(window).scrollLeft();
$(“#” + e).css({
position: “absolute”,
top: t,
left: n
});
$(“#lightbox_cb,#” + e).fadeIn(300);
$(“#lightbox_cb”).remove();
$(“body”).append(”);
$(“#lightbox_cb”).css({
filter: “alpha(opacity=80)”
}).fadeIn()*/

$(“.linkSignUp”).click();
}

function overlay(n)
{
document.getElementById(‘back’).style.width = document.body.clientWidth + “px”;
document.getElementById(‘back’).style.height = document.body.clientHeight +”px”;
document.getElementById(‘back’).style.display = ‘block’;
jQuery.fn.center = function () {
this.css(“position”,”absolute”);
var topPos = ($(window).height() – this.height() ) / 2;
this.css(“top”, -topPos).show().animate({‘top’:topPos},300);
this.css(“left”, ( $(window).width() – this.width() ) / 2);
return this;
}
setTimeout(function(){$(‘#backInner’+n).center()},100);

}
function closeoverlay(n){
document.getElementById(‘back’).style.display = ‘none’;
document.getElementById(‘backInner’+n).style.display = ‘none’;
}
stk_str=”;
stk.forEach(function (stkData,index){
if(index==0){
stk_str+=stkData.stockId.trim();
}else{
stk_str+=’,’+stkData.stockId.trim();
}
});

$.get(‘//www.moneycontrol.com/techmvc/mc_apis/stock_details/?classic=true&sc_id=’+stk_str, function(data) {
stk.forEach(function (stkData,index){
$(‘#stock-name-‘+stkData.stockId.trim()+’-‘+article_id).text(data[stkData.stockId.trim()][‘nse’][‘shortname’]);
});
});

function redirectToTradeOpenDematAccountOnline(){
if (stock_isinid && stock_tradeType) {
window.open(`https://www.moneycontrol.com/open-demat-account-online?classic=true&script_id=${stock_isinid}&ex=${stock_tradeType}&site=web&asset_class=stock&utm_source=moneycontrol&utm_medium=articlepage&utm_campaign=tradenow&utm_content=webbutton`, ‘_blank’);
}
}

International brokerage Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on India’s four largest pharmaceutical companies by market capitalization, but maintains a bullish stance only on Sun Pharmaceutical Industries.

The brokerage expects earnings growth across the pharma sector to moderate during FY25–27, though robust balance sheets could support investments in high-growth areas like peptides, biosimilars, and specialty drugs.

The firm has an ‘overweight’ rating on Sun Pharma, citing its strong specialty pipeline, focus on chronic therapies in the Indian market, and solid financials. It has set a target price of Rs 1,960 per share. Over the past one year, shares of Sun Pharma have gained 5.6 percent.

Lupin has been rated ‘equal-weight’ with a target price of Rs 2,096. Morgan Stanley sees a strong first half for FY26, but flags potential downside due to intensifying competition in the U.S. market. Lupin shares have seen a flat performance on the bourses over the past one year, gaining 3.2 percent.

Both Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) and Cipla are expected to go through a transition year in FY26, with revenues from gRevlimid tapering off. DRL is also rated ‘equal-weight’ with a target of Rs 1,298, though the firm notes the ramp-up of semaglutide could deliver upside surprises. Dr Reddy’s Labs stock has fallen 7.7 percent over 12 months, underperforming its peers.

Cipla is the least favored among the pack by Morgan Stanley, as the brokerage gave it an ‘underweight’ rating and a target price of Rs 1,400, as the brokerage forecasts a negative 2 percent EPS CAGR over FY25–27. Cipla’s stock has traded near the flatline over the past year, slipping two percent into the red.

Follow our market blog to catch all the live updates

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.