Stifel maintains hold on Acadia stock, reiterates $18 target

Published 08/05/2025, 15:42
Stifel maintains hold on Acadia stock, reiterates $18 target

On Thursday, Stifel analysts maintained their Hold rating on Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD), with a steady price target of $18.00. The decision comes after Acadia’s first-quarter earnings for 2025, which the analysts found to be generally strong, supported by a robust 31.8% year-over-year revenue growth and healthy gross margins of nearly 60%. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a GREAT financial health score and appears slightly undervalued based on its Fair Value analysis. The company confirmed its full-year revenue outlook for its two marketed products.

The quarter saw a slight shortfall in top-line revenue for Daybue, but the addition of over 30 net new patients exceeded Stifel’s projections. Analysts noted an increase in total prescriptions coming from community physicians, such as pediatricians, who are the primary caregivers for the majority of Rett syndrome patients in the United States. The company’s strong financial position, with more cash than debt and a healthy current ratio of 2.38, provides solid backing for its commercial expansion efforts.

Stifel’s assessment indicates that while achieving this year’s financial targets may pose challenges, the recent performance is a positive indicator, especially ahead of the expected advantages from the company’s salesforce expansion. In addition, Nuplazid, another of Acadia’s products, surpassed sales estimates for the quarter.

A significant highlight from Acadia’s update is the accelerated timeline for phase 3 data on ACP-101 for Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), now anticipated in early fourth quarter of 2025, instead of the first quarter of 2026. This change is attributed to faster-than-expected patient enrollment in the trial. Despite the high-risk nature of the study, analysts believe the market has not fully appreciated this aspect of Acadia’s pipeline.

In other recent news, Acadia Pharmaceuticals has reported a strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing analyst expectations. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $0.11, significantly outperforming the projected $0.02 loss. Revenue for the quarter reached $244.3 million, exceeding the anticipated $239.55 million, marking a 19% increase year-over-year. Notably, NUPLAZID sales contributed $159.7 million to this total, reflecting a 23% growth compared to the previous year. Acadia has also expanded its field force and consumer campaigns, enhancing its market presence. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 financial guidance, with an increased R&D expense range of $330-$350 million. This adjustment is attributed to the acceleration of its timeline for the COMPASS PWS Phase III study in Prader-Willi syndrome. Additionally, Acadia is actively preparing for potential regulatory submissions in early 2026, highlighting its ongoing commitment to growth and innovation.

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