Got Milk: Formula stocks show signs of recovery as a new member joins

The ASX’s China-focused dairy formula stocks are showing signs of recovery after a lean few months, with the majority of companies seeing share price improvement and a new business set to join them.

The sub-sector is up 6 per cent in the past month, though year-on-year is still down 15 per cent.

Today the crew gains a new member, with Australian Nutrition Dairy & Sports (ASX:AN1) to join the official list. The company was raising money in February to fund sales and marketing for its range of dairy and protein formula.

Bubs Australia (ASX:BUB) is currently leading the way, with its shares rising 42 per cent in the past month to 79c.

That is thanks to news $1.3 billion domestic Chinese infant formula business Beingmate would distribute and promote Bubs’ infant formula and organic baby food products in China.

A recovering Bellamy’s (ASX:BAL) has regained 30 per cent in that time, boosting its market cap back over the billion-dollar mark, with shares sitting at $11.27 a pop on Tuesday.

It is still down 42 per cent year-on-year, however.

Clover Corp (ASX:CLV) is another small cap punching above its weight, with its shares rising 19 per cent in the past month, after it reported a 10 per cent boost in revenue and 40 per cent boost in profit for the 2019 half-year.

Clover last year cited Chinese enthusiasm for its nutrient-rich formula additives as a key reason for a doubling in full-year profit.

Read: Dairy formula – who’s dabbling in it right now and are they exporting to China?

Wattle Health (ASX:WHA) has suffered a 15 per cent drop in the past month, down to 76c though it announced during the period a joint venture to create organic A2 nutritional dairy powder as well as finalising a Chinese supply agreement.

Other bellwether stocks, A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) and Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1), are down 1 per cent and up 2 per cent respectively.

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Here is a table of companies and share price movement. Click headings to sort