Stock market today: S&P 500 drops for fifth day as focus shifts to Powell’s speech
On Monday, Stifel analysts maintained a Buy rating on Compass Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CMPX) with a steady price target of $10.00. The company, currently valued at $372 million, trades at $2.37 per share. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets range from $4 to $32, suggesting significant potential upside. The analysts are looking forward to the imminent release of topline Objective Response Rate (ORR) data from the Phase 2/3 COMPANION-002 trial. This trial is evaluating the combination of paclitaxel with or without tovecimig (CTX-009) in second-line Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC).
The Stifel team expressed a favorable view of the risk/reward balance for Compass Therapeutics, citing the robust nature of previous Phase 2 data, the trial’s power assumptions, and expectations that control arm outcomes will align with these assumptions. InvestingPro analysis reveals the company maintains a strong financial position with more cash than debt and a remarkable current ratio of 14.96, providing ample runway for its clinical programs. Subscribers can access 10+ additional ProTips about CMPX’s financial health. They noted, however, that the upcoming ORR data, serving as the trial’s primary efficacy endpoint, will not fully bridge the longer-term valuation gap they perceive for the company. They anticipate that secondary and event-driven endpoint data, which will not be available until the second half of 2025, will be necessary to gain complete visibility into the trial’s registrational capacity.
Stifel’s analysts have adjusted their financial model for Compass Therapeutics to reflect slightly higher estimates for second-line BTC, including increased patient numbers, higher pricing, and a shorter duration of treatment. The stock has shown strong momentum, posting a 63.45% gain year-to-date and a 50% increase over the past six months, despite recent short-term volatility. They have also incorporated delayed timelines for potential future label expansions. The analysts estimate that in a best-case scenario, where the ORR data significantly exceeds expectations, there could be an upside of approximately $5 per share. Conversely, they suggest that a share price could fall to around $1 in the event of unequivocally negative trial results.
The focus on the upcoming ORR data release underscores the importance of this milestone for Compass Therapeutics. With the next earnings report expected on May 12, InvestingPro subscribers can access comprehensive financial metrics and real-time analysis to make informed investment decisions. The analysts’ maintained price target and rating reflect their continued confidence in the company’s prospects, despite recognizing that key data needed to fully assess the company’s longer-term potential will not be available until later. The trial’s findings will be pivotal in shaping the company’s path forward and its position within the competitive landscape of BTC treatments.
In other recent news, Compass Therapeutics has been the focus of several notable developments. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on the company with an Overweight rating and a price target of $12.00, reflecting confidence in the prospects of its lead program, tovecimeg. This program is approaching a pivotal milestone with an expected data readout from its Phase 2/3 trial in March, a significant event that could influence the company’s future trajectory. The company also reported progress in its clinical development programs, including anticipated top-line data for tovecimeg in biliary tract cancer patients by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, Compass is advancing CTX-10726, with plans to file an Investigational New Drug application by the end of 2025. Financially, Compass ended 2024 with an estimated $127 million in cash and marketable securities, expected to fund operations into early 2027. In corporate news, Barry Shin has been appointed as the new Chief Financial Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. These updates highlight Compass Therapeutics’ ongoing efforts in oncology and its strategic planning for future growth.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.