Acadia stock target holds at $24 as BMO affirms outlook

Published 16/05/2025, 17:44
Acadia stock target holds at $24 as BMO affirms outlook

On Friday, BMO Capital Markets maintained a positive stance on Acadia Pharmaceuticals, reiterating an Outperform rating and a price target of $24.00 for the company’s stock. Currently trading at $22.17, Acadia appears slightly overvalued according to InvestingPro analysis, though the company maintains a "GREAT" financial health score. The reaffirmation follows a recent U.S. district court ruling in favor of Acadia in a patent infringement lawsuit against Aurobindo Pharma (NSE:ARBN).

The court confirmed that Aurobindo Pharma had infringed on claims 4 and 5 of Acadia’s U.S. formulation patent, number 11,452,721. This decision is significant for Acadia, a company with impressive revenue growth of 22.4% and a market capitalization of $3.74 billion, as it potentially extends the patent protection of its drug Nuplazid, which is used to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis, well into the 2030s.

BMO Capital’s analyst highlighted the court ruling as a removal of a major uncertainty for Acadia’s shares, suggesting that the company’s intellectual property rights could now be secure until 2038. This extension is contingent upon a unanimously positive decision in Acadia’s formulation patent cases, as previously noted by the company’s management.

The analyst’s commentary underscores the importance of the court’s decision, which supports Acadia’s position in protecting its proprietary drug formulation. The outcome of the lawsuit not only favors Acadia’s legal standing but also solidifies the company’s market exclusivity for Nuplazid for an extended period.

The market is expected to react to this development, as the patent protection extension can have a significant impact on Acadia’s long-term revenue prospects. The company’s ability to maintain exclusivity over Nuplazid without the threat of generic competition could provide a stable financial outlook for the foreseeable future.

Investors and industry observers will continue to monitor the situation as further details emerge regarding any potential appeals or additional legal proceedings. For now, the court’s decision marks a critical victory for Acadia Pharmaceuticals in the ongoing effort to safeguard its intellectual property rights. With analyst targets ranging from $11 to $37, and a solid balance sheet showing more cash than debt, the company’s outlook remains compelling. For deeper insights into Acadia’s financial health and growth prospects, access the comprehensive research report available on InvestingPro, which offers exclusive analysis of this and 1,400+ other US stocks.

In other recent news, Acadia Pharmaceuticals reported strong financial performance in the first quarter of 2025, with earnings per share of $0.11, significantly surpassing the expected loss of $0.02. The company achieved revenue of $244.3 million, exceeding the forecast of $239.55 million, marking a 19% year-over-year increase. Acadia’s NUPLAZID product saw sales of $159.7 million, reflecting a 23% growth from the previous year. Additionally, Acadia Pharmaceuticals secured a favorable court ruling in a patent infringement case against Aurobindo Pharma, which upheld the validity of Acadia’s patent claims. This legal victory is expected to bolster Acadia’s competitive position in the market.

Analysts have shown varied reactions to these developments. JMP analysts maintained a Market Outperform rating with a price target of $37, citing Acadia’s strong quarterly performance and growth prospects. They highlighted the continued success of NUPLAZID and the growth trajectory of DAYBUE, another of Acadia’s products. On the other hand, Stifel analysts retained a Hold rating with an $18 price target, noting a slight revenue shortfall for DAYBUE but acknowledging the potential benefits of Acadia’s expanded salesforce.

Moreover, Acadia’s clinical pipeline shows promising advancements. The Phase 3 trial for ACP-101 in Prader-Willi Syndrome is progressing faster than anticipated, with results expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, earlier than initially projected. These recent developments indicate ongoing momentum in Acadia’s strategic initiatives and market presence.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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