Srivichaivejvivat Public Company Limited

PRG Corporation Public Company Limited, part of MBK Public Company Limited, or MBK, has acquired a big lot of 125.66 million shares in Srivichai Vejvivat Public Company Limited, or VIH, representing 20.03%, from BBTV Equity Company Limited, the largest shareholder and a company of the Rattanarak family, owner of Channel 7HD, which has held VIH shares since 2014. Two days earlier, VIH shares jumped 10.71% to close at 9.30 baht amid reports of the big lot. VIH operates four hospitals: Vichaiyut International Hospital Om Noi, Vichaiyut International Hospital Nong Khaem, Vichaiyut International Hospital Samut Sakhon, and Vichaiyut Hospital Fai Chai, along with Srivichai Vocational School, and has consistently profitable operations, paying dividends every year, with the latest dividend yield at 4.24%. The acquisition marks MBK's advance into the medical and health business. MBK has six core businesses: rice production and distribution, contract manufacturing, food courts, property and real estate development, logistics, and energy. Synergies are expected, from opening comprehensive health centers or specialized clinics in the group's shopping malls such as MBK Center, Paradise Park, and The Nine Center, to expanding medical tourism with group hotels such as Pathumwan Princess Hotel, and linking customer databases and loyalty programs across the group's businesses.

Today's stocks to watch include several companies announcing plans and earnings outlooks. ICHI is confident of standout growth in the second half, with revenue this year reaching 9,000 million baht. It is pushing ahead into the fertilizer business, with a three-year plan to lift revenue to 1,500 million baht, and is teaming up with COCOCO to launch a coconut water jelly drink, targeting sales of 15 million baht this year. Meanwhile, GPSC and RATCH received positive news as the Energy Policy and Planning Office is set to extend the operating life of gas-fired power plants in the first five years of the PDP 2026 plan, with hopes for extensions for the 677-megawatt GLOW IPP plant and for Ratch Group's 3,645-megawatt Ratchaburi plant to qualify. Target prices were set at 61 baht per share for GPSC and 41.40 baht per share for RATCH. VIH hinted at standout growth in the third quarter of 2026, benefiting from treatment of complex diseases, which supports higher margins, with cash reserves of more than 1,400 million baht and a push toward medical excellence by 2028. KTMS signaled a strong showing in the third quarter of 2026, accelerating the opening of 11 new dialysis branches and installing 36 to 64 additional dialysis machines, supporting a 2026 revenue target of 800 million baht. OSP said the third quarter of 2026 will grow in line with plan, highlighting premium beverages as the main driver, with its automation system in Ayutthaya having already cut costs by more than 300 million baht, and it is confident revenue this year will grow at a single-digit rate. BAM is adjusting its business model toward asset management, focusing on net profit and cost control, driving an asset-light model with assets of 100,000 to 120,000 million baht and eyeing profit of 2,000 million baht.

The Cabinet meeting approved in principle a draft royal decree to extend Social Security coverage under Section 33 to three groups of employees previously exempted: those in agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry; employees of individual employers; and employees of stall-holder employers. This is expected to add 550,000 insured persons in 2026 and 1.05 million by 2030. Krungsri Securities views this as a positive sentiment for hospital groups treating insured patients, with upside to revenue in the medium to long term. Hospitals with the highest social security revenue in the first half include BCH at 38% and CHG at 30%, while RJH has 53%, SKR 36%, VIH 26%, and PHG 40%. The firm maintains a bullish stance on the hospital group, expecting profits to have passed the trough, supported by the high season and the increase in social security treatment rates. Top picks are BDMS with a target price of 25 baht and PR9 with a target price of 24 baht. BCH, with a target price of 12 baht, is the biggest beneficiary if treatment rates are adjusted.