JFrog stock rises as Cantor Fitzgerald maintains Overweight rating after strong Q2
On Wednesday, Citizens JMP initiated coverage on Cidara Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CDTX), currently trading at $21 with a market capitalization of $230 million, assigning a Market Outperform rating and setting a price target of $46.00. The new coverage is based on the potential of Cidara’s leading drug candidate, CD388, which is designed for the prevention of influenza. According to InvestingPro data, analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with price targets ranging from $33 to $35.
The analyst from Citizens JMP highlighted the innovative approach of Cidara’s drug-Fc conjugates (DFCs), which differ from antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in their therapeutic mechanism. These DFCs are described as ultra-long, half-life small molecules. CD388, Cidara’s primary focus, is currently undergoing a large Phase 2b trial with final results expected in the second quarter. A Phase 3 trial is also anticipated to commence in time for the 2025-2026 flu season in the Northern Hemisphere. The company maintains a strong financial position with more cash than debt and a healthy current ratio of 4.25, though InvestingPro data indicates rapid cash burn that investors should monitor.
The optimism surrounding CD388 stems from its potential to significantly benefit immunocompromised individuals who typically have low responsiveness to vaccines and face the greatest unmet medical needs. Despite the conservative success rate assumption of 50% applied to CD388 by the analyst, the opportunity to address the U.S. population of approximately 12 million immunocompromised individuals was emphasized as a substantial market.
The analyst’s valuation also takes into account past challenges faced by antiviral trials, which have historically struggled to translate success from controlled trials to field studies. However, the strong in vitro potency of CD388 and positive results from a human challenge trial were cited as reasons for enthusiasm regarding the drug’s prospects.
Cidara Therapeutics’ valuation is considered undervalued by the analyst, even when only accounting for the CD388 opportunity within a limited demographic and geographic scope. The broader elderly population and other individuals with co-morbidities, as well as the potential value of Cidara’s DFC pipeline and platform, are seen as additional upside factors not yet factored into the current valuation. While the stock has shown strong momentum with an 85% gain over the past six months, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is fairly valued at current levels. Investors can access detailed valuation metrics, 12 additional ProTips, and comprehensive financial analysis through an InvestingPro subscription.
In other recent news, Cidara Therapeutics reported a wider fourth-quarter net loss of $52.3 million, or -$5.37 per share, compared to a loss of $3.2 million in the same period last year. This increase in loss is attributed to higher research and development expenses, which rose to $46.9 million, primarily due to the costs associated with the Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial for their influenza drug candidate CD388. The company did not report any collaboration revenue for the quarter, a decrease from $2.8 million the previous year. Despite the financial loss, Cidara ended 2024 with $196.2 million in cash and equivalents, supported by recent financing activities, including a $240 million raise in April and an additional $105 million in November.
Additionally, H.C. Wainwright analyst Ed Arce raised the price target for Cidara shares to $35 from the previous $24, maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment follows Cidara’s announcement of an anticipated early analysis of the NAVIGATE study, which could potentially advance CD388 into a Phase 3 study earlier than expected. The NAVIGATE study, which completed full enrollment in December 2024, aims to evaluate CD388’s efficacy in preventing influenza, with top-line data anticipated in the first half of 2025. Arce’s optimism is reflected in the revised price target, indicating confidence in CD388’s potential as a significant development in influenza prevention.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.