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Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX)
NASDAQ:PLRX
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Pliant Therapeutics
(NASDAQ:PLRX)
25Underperform
Positive Factors
Financial Stability
Pliant had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $357M, which management expects can fund operations for at least the next 12 months.
Potential Future Development
Bexotegrast could re-enter the clinic for IPF or other diseases, as Pliant plans to analyze the collected data from BEACON-IPF to guide bexotegrast’s future development.
Negative Factors
Clinical Trial Discontinuation
The discontinuation of the IPF clinical program for bexotegrast was due to a higher rate of adverse events in the treatment group compared to the placebo group.
Reduced Sales Forecast
The analyst has zeroed out the IPF indication from the model, significantly reducing expected future sales.
Uncertainty in Stock Value
The discontinuation of the BEACON-IPF study creates uncertainty and makes it challenging to have conviction in the stock without more clarity.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)
Market Cap
$96.75M
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)4.20M
Price to Earnings (P/E)―
Beta (1Y)1.45
Revenue Growth-100.00%
EPS Growth-26.44%
CountryUS
Employees158
SectorHealthcare
Sector Strength78
IndustryBiotechnology
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-3.47
Shares Outstanding61,236,290
10 Day Avg. Volume4,953,779
30 Day Avg. Volume4,202,183
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG RatioN/A
Price to Book (P/B)N/A
Price to Sales (P/S)52.32
Price to Cash Flow (P/CF)-0.50
P/FCF Ratio0.00
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$4.79Price Target Upside203.16% Upside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering13
Pliant Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company DescriptionPliant Therapeutics Inc is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis. Its lead product candidate, PLN-74809, is an oral small-molecule dual that helps in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
How the Company Makes MoneyPliant Therapeutics makes money primarily through the development and potential commercialization of its drug candidates. The company generates revenue through strategic partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies. These partnerships may involve upfront payments, milestone payments based on the achievement of specific development goals, and royalties on future product sales. As a clinical-stage company, Pliant's revenue is also influenced by research grants or subsidies, but the majority of its future earnings potential lies in the successful approval and market introduction of its drug candidates.
Pliant Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Pliant Therapeutics is facing significant financial challenges with declining revenues and persistent losses. The balance sheet remains relatively stable with low leverage, but cash flows are under pressure, necessitating external funding to support operations. The company needs to improve revenue generation and cost management to achieve financial stability.Income Statement
Pliant Therapeutics has shown a declining revenue trend from 2019 to 2024 with revenue dropping to zero in 2024. The company is experiencing persistent net losses, evident from the negative net profit margins, indicating challenges in achieving profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative, reflecting high operating expenses relative to revenue.20
Very Negative
Balance Sheet
The company's balance sheet shows a stable equity base despite consistent losses. The debt-to-equity ratio remains low due to minimal debt, signaling low leverage which reduces financial risk. However, the company's stockholders' equity has decreased over time, indicating financial pressure.40
Negative
Cash Flow
Pliant Therapeutics has negative operating and free cash flows, indicating cash outflows from operations. The free cash flow has worsened over time, showing increasing capital strain. The cash flow from financing activities has been positive, suggesting reliance on external funding.30
Negative
| Breakdown | ||||
| Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income Statement | Total Revenue | |||
| 0.00 | 1.58M | 9.69M | 7.57M | 41.82M | Gross Profit |
| 0.00 | 1.58M | 6.00M | 4.37M | 41.82M | EBIT |
| -228.37M | -184.15M | -127.20M | -19.99M | -41.65M | EBITDA |
| -228.37M | -158.23M | -118.85M | -95.73M | -40.34M | Net Income Common Stockholders |
| -210.30M | -161.34M | -121.50M | -17.91M | -39.74M |
| Balance Sheet | Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | |||
| 355.72M | 494.25M | 331.19M | 200.60M | 276.89M | Total Assets |
| 396.95M | 512.15M | 350.61M | 221.22M | 295.53M | Total Debt |
| 29.98M | 11.37M | 15.81M | 7.19M | 283.00K | Net Debt |
| -41.21M | -51.86M | -17.87M | -44.47M | -50.60M | Total Liabilities |
| 92.87M | 38.58M | 37.27M | 22.16M | 12.46M | Stockholders Equity |
| 304.08M | 473.58M | 313.34M | 199.06M | 283.06M |
| Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | |||
| -159.35M | -117.28M | -96.39M | -77.40M | -38.80M | Operating Cash Flow |
| -155.50M | -116.36M | -94.63M | -75.44M | -37.27M | Investing Cash Flow |
| 140.34M | -127.01M | -150.20M | 73.70M | -210.87M | Financing Cash Flow |
| 23.12M | 274.40M | 226.85M | 2.53M | 213.21M |
Pliant Therapeutics Technical Analysis
Negative
1.58
Price Trends
7.43
Negative
10.73
Negative
11.49
Negative
Market Momentum
-1.70
Negative
24.37
Positive
13.74
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PLRX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.58 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.40, below the 50-day MA of 7.43, and below the 200-day MA of 11.49, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.70 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 24.37 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 13.74 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PLRX.
Pliant Therapeutics Risk Analysis
Pliant Therapeutics disclosed 81 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Pliant Therapeutics reported the most risks in the “Tech & Innovation” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
Pliant Therapeutics Peers Comparison
Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (49)
Financial Indicators
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 Neutral | $125.40B | ― | -3.15% | ― | 11.64% | -114.72% | |
52 Neutral | $1.69B | 22.18 | 7.21% | ― | ― | ― | |
52 Neutral | $5.61B | ― | -31.26% | ― | 104.04% | 87.80% | |
49 Neutral | $6.84B | 0.05 | -53.14% | 2.48% | 24.49% | -3.26% | |
47 Neutral | $2.07B | ― | -600.68% | ― | -98.62% | -86.21% | |
47 Neutral | $151.11M | ― | -124.10% | ― | 5.53% | 46.09% | |
25 Underperform | $96.75M | ― | -54.09% | ― | -100.00% | -26.44% |
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
PLRX
Pliant Therapeutics
1.52
-13.38
-89.80%
ARWR
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
15.07
-12.35
-45.04%
NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
0.82
-0.04
-4.65%
VRTX
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
502.92
94.15
23.03%
BPMC
Blueprint Medicines
89.84
2.13
2.43%
GLPG
Galapagos
25.99
-8.16
-23.89%
Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.