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On Tuesday, Citi reiterated its Buy rating and $44.00 price target on Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ARCT), following the company’s strategic decision to halt certain early-stage vaccine programs. The firm believes Arcturus made a smart move by discontinuing its mRNA vaccine efforts for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Lyme disease due to low return on investment and limited visibility. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial position with more cash than debt and a healthy current ratio of 4.67x, though it’s currently burning through cash rapidly.
The focus for Arcturus now shifts to upcoming developments in its pipeline, specifically for its OTC deficiency and cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments. Citi analysts view the OTC program as lower risk, expecting it to yield predictable results based on established biochemistry. The CF treatment, while potentially transformative for Arcturus, has inherent variability due to the nature of the FEV1 biomarker, especially in a small initial patient cohort.
Arcturus’s decision to streamline its focus comes as the company prepares for significant milestones in the second and third quarters of 2025. The company is anticipating results from key trials in its OTC and CF programs during this period. According to Citi, these upcoming events could serve as catalysts for the stock, which is currently trading just above its cash value. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, despite showing significant volatility with a beta of 2.37 and a steep 60% decline over the past year.
Citi has issued a high-conviction 90-day Upside Catalyst Watch on Arcturus Therapeutics. This indicates that the firm expects the stock to perform well over the next three months, driven by potential positive developments in the company’s clinical pipeline. Arcturus is working towards addressing unmet medical needs in OTC deficiency and cystic fibrosis, with the potential to significantly impact the company’s valuation if successful. InvestingPro reveals strong analyst consensus with a bullish 1.27 rating, while offering additional insights through its comprehensive Pro Research Report, available along with 10+ ProTips for deeper analysis of ARCT’s potential.
In other recent news, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. reported its first-quarter 2025 financial results, which revealed a significant revenue decline and a net loss that fell short of analyst expectations. The company posted earnings per share (EPS) at a loss of $0.52, missing the forecasted profit of $3.59. Revenue was reported at $29.4 million, a substantial shortfall from the anticipated $205.21 million. Despite these results, Arcturus’ stock rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading. The company has extended its cash runway to the first quarter of 2028, focusing its efforts on advancing its mRNA therapeutics pipeline. This includes ongoing clinical trials for cystic fibrosis and ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. Arcturus has also received an initial milestone payment from its partner CSL (OTC:CSLLY) following the recent EU approval of its COVID-19 vaccine, Costave. Analysts from firms such as Leerink Partners and Piper Sandler have shown interest in the company’s strategic direction and ongoing clinical trials.
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