Vitamin small caps look healthy as Star Combo jumps 58pc on ASX debut

Vitamin maker Star Combo Pharma made a strong ASX debut today, joining a health supplements sector that is looking pretty fit.

The stock (ASX:S66) finished its first day at an intraday high of 79c — a 58 per cent premium to its 50c issue price.

Star Combo raised $5.8 million selling 11.6 million shares at 50c and another $1.2 million selling 2.5 million shares to Chinese early stage investor Richlink Capital at 47c.

More than 3.4 million shares changed hands in its first day of trade. There are about 75.5 million shares on issue.

While $2 billion Blackmores (ASX:BKL) is the sector’s large cap bellwether, there are more than 15 ASX-listed small caps offering exposure to vitamins and health supplements.

The theme has performed pretty well over the past year, driven by demand from China, expansion into dairy products and pot stock boosts for those exploring cannabis-infused health supplements.

Probiotics seller Bioxyne is up 380 per cent over the past year. Neutraceutical maker Probiotec is up 155 per cent.

Jatenergy is up an astounding 1000 per cent — though largely due to its entry into the popular infant milk formula business.

>> Scroll down for a list of ASX small caps in the vitamins and dietary supplements game

China is the new supplement sales pitch

China is where Star Combo — and many of its peers — are looking for customers.

Already AuMake (ASX:AU8), JatEnergy (ASX:JAT), China Dairy Company (ASX:CDC) which sells vitamin-infused milk, and Eagle Health Holdings (ASX:EHH) have or are trying to crack the Chinese market.

Blackmores (ASX:BKL) is the bellwether many are trying to emulate, after lifting half-year profit by 20 per cent to $34 million in February on the back of Chinese sales.

The Chinese supplement market has gained the most market share since 2006, making up 14.3 per cent of the global industry by 2016, according to the Nutrition Business Journal.

Asians buys $15 billion of herb and botanical-based supplements annually, but sports, meal and homeopathic supplements are seeing double-digit growth in the region as well.

Consulting firm McKinsey says the global supplements market is now worth $US82 billion ($110 billion) — with about 28 per cent of that in the US.

The Australian sector is said to be worth about $2.6 billion.

Ageing populations, awareness of preventative healthcare, “self-directed consumers” who Google their health answers, more advertising channels and a shift from marketing ingredients to brands have helped build the market.

ASX-listed vitamin sellers are finding lots of customers. GIF: Giphy

Probiotec, which makes neuraceuticals and “Celebrity Slim” weight-loss shakes is up 155 per cent for the past year. It recently upgraded its profit outlook by 10 per cent

Bioxyne, which sells dietary supplements such as probiotics and nutritional shakes, is up 380 per cent over the past year.

Jatenergy — which sells vitamins an neutraceuticals into China — is up an astounding 1000 per cent over 12 months.

Both Bioxyne and Jatenergy got big boosts from their moves into dairy.

Eagle Health is trying the meal replacement market by selling diabetes shakes. Holista CollTech (ASX:HCT) makes most of its income from dietary supplements but mving into health foods including diet noodles aimed at Asian markets.

>> Here’s a list of ASX small caps in the vitamins and dietary supplements game:

ASX Code	Company	One-year share price change	Price May 15	Market Cap
CDC	CHINA DAIRY	Suspended	0.066	49M
JAT	JATENERGY	10.4285714286	0.16	89.5M
BXN	BIOXYNE	3.8	0.072	46.1M
AU8	AUMAKE (listed Oct 2017)	2.25	0.26	68.9M
QBL	QUEENSLAND BAUXITE	1.88235294118	0.049	78.1M
PBP	PROBIOTEC	1.55434782609	1.175	65.7M
THC	THE HYDROPONICS CO	0.867647058824	0.635	81.0M
EXL	ELIXINOL GLOBAL (listed Jan 2018)	0.65	1.65	173.9M
CPH	CRESO PHARMA	0.479591836735	0.725	79.4M
EVE	EVE INVESTMENTS	0.375	0.011	26.8M
MXC	MGC PHARMACEUTICALS	0.2	0.072	87.8M
AEB	ALGAE.TEC	-0.147058823529	0.029	25.2M
VLS	VITA LIFE SCIENCE	-0.24	0.76	41.7M
EHH	EAGLE HEALTH (listed Jun 2017)	-0.2875	0.285	89.2M
HCT	HOLISTA COLLTECH	-0.292307692308	0.092	17.5M

The Star Combo story

Star Combo comes with solid financials and a decent story.

Star Zhang founded the business in 2004 with plans to export supplements to Asia. A deal with Terry White Chenmart pharmacies in 2017 got one of their brands into the Australian chain as well.

The company made a $1.48 million profit in the 2016-17 financial year and revenue of $9.84 million. Profit the year before was $1.59 million and revenue was $9.4 million.

Currently, the company makes 70 per cent of its revenue from contract manufacturing for other vitamin businesses and 30 per cent from sales of its branded products, but is looking to swap those numbers around.