Lactose (India) Faces Challenges Amid Declining Sales and High Debt Levels

Lactose (India), a microcap player in the pharmaceuticals and drugs sector, has experienced significant volatility, hitting a 52-week low of Rs. 101.3 today. The stock has underperformed its sector by 1.3%, continuing a downward trend with a 13.22% decline over the past five days. Currently, Lactose (India) is trading below its 5-day, 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bearish technical outlook. The company's recent performance has been concerning, with a reported net sales decline of 5.68% and a series of negative results over the last six quarters. The operating profit to interest ratio stands at a low 1.80 times, and the profit after tax has dropped to Rs. 0.22 crore. Additionally, Lactose (India) has a high debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 3.61 times, raising questions about its ability to service debt. Over the past year, Lactose (India) has seen a substantial decline of 27.14%, contrasting sharply with the Sensex's modest gain of 2.10%. The company's return on capital employed (ROCE) is at 9.81%, reflecting weak long-term fundamental strength. As the market continues to evolve, Lactose (India) remains a focal point for those monitoring the pharmaceuticals sector.