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Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (ABUS)
NASDAQ:ABUS
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Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) AI Stock Analysis

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ABUS

Arbutus Biopharma

(NASDAQ:ABUS)

Rating:53Neutral
Price Target:
$3.50
▲(2.94% Upside)
Arbutus Biopharma's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its financial challenges, including declining revenues and ongoing losses. However, positive technical indicators and recent corporate events, such as promising treatment data and board changes, provide some optimism. The valuation remains a concern due to negative earnings and lack of dividends.
Positive Factors
Drug Efficacy and Safety
The combination of imdusiran and pegylated interferon alfa-2a was generally safe and well-tolerated, achieving a functional cure in 50% of patients with no serious adverse events.
Financial Management
Arbutus's focus on the efficient deployment of financial resources is driving expectations for a significant reduction in cash burn.
Management and Strategy
The appointment of Lindsay Androski as the new CEO is seen as a strategic move, enhancing the focus on LNP litigation.
Negative Factors
Clinical Trials
Arbutus has discontinued the planned IM-PROVE III Phase 2a trial of imdusiran plus anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab prior to initiation.
Financial Impact
Arbutus anticipates a one-time restructuring charge of approximately $11M-$13M.
Legal Challenges
Arbutus and partner Genevant are expanding their LNP legal activity against Moderna globally, adding complexity to ongoing legal proceedings.

Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Arbutus Biopharma Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionArbutus Biopharma Corporation (ABUS) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and other viral diseases. The company specializes in discovering and commercializing novel drug candidates that target the underlying biology of HBV to improve patient outcomes. Arbutus's core products include a range of antiviral therapies, particularly those that aim to eliminate HBV or significantly reduce viral load in patients.
How the Company Makes MoneyArbutus Biopharma generates revenue primarily through the development and commercialization of its therapeutic products. The company engages in strategic partnerships and collaborations with other pharmaceutical companies, which may include upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties on future sales of products developed in collaboration. These partnerships often provide substantial funding for research and development, allowing Arbutus to focus on advancing its clinical trials. Additionally, if any of Arbutus's products receive regulatory approval and are brought to market, the company stands to earn significant revenue from product sales. The company may also explore licensing opportunities for its technologies, further diversifying its revenue streams.

Arbutus Biopharma Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q3-2024)
|
% Change Since: -0.29%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a positive outlook with strong financial positioning and promising clinical trial data for HBV treatments. However, ongoing legal challenges and high operational cash burn present concerns.
Q3-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Position
Arbutus ended Q3 2024 with $131 million in cash, sufficient to fund operations into Q4 2026. A $44 million net proceeds from common shares issuance offset $54.5 million in operational cash usage.
Promising Clinical Data for Hepatitis B Treatment
Imdusiran showed promising results in reducing surface antigen levels in HBV patients. In Cohort A1 of the IM-PROVE I trial, 33% of patients achieved surface antigen loss sustained at 24 weeks post-treatment, with 67% of those with baseline less than 1,000 IU/mL maintaining loss.
Upcoming Data Presentations
Upcoming presentations at the Liver Meeting 2024 and AASLD will showcase additional data from ongoing HBV trials, indicating continued progress and interest in Arbutus' research.
Negative Updates
Limited Advancement in Legal Proceedings
Litigation with Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech over LNP intellectual property is ongoing, with trial dates set for late 2024 and 2025, indicating prolonged legal battles.
High Cash Burn Rate
The company reported a high cash burn of $54.5 million in operations for the first half of 2024, which may necessitate further financing activities to sustain long-term operations.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter 2024 earnings call for Arbutus Biopharma, the company provided several key metrics and updates on their ongoing efforts to develop a functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (HBV). They reported having approximately $131 million in cash and investments, with a projected cash burn for 2024 between $63 million and $67 million, ensuring their financial runway extends into the fourth quarter of 2026. The company is advancing their RNAi therapeutic imdusiran through Phase IIa trials, IM-PROVE I and II, which have shown promising results, such as a 33% surface antigen loss in Cohort A1 and 67% in patients with baseline antigen levels below 1,000 IU/mL. Moreover, they are progressing with their AB-101 clinical trial, with evidence of dose-dependent receptor occupancy in Phase Ia/Ib, and anticipate reporting preliminary HBV patient data in the first half of next year. The litigation with Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech is ongoing, with a trial date set for September 2025 and a Markman hearing on December 18, 2024.

Arbutus Biopharma Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Arbutus Biopharma faces significant financial challenges, with declining revenues, ongoing losses, and negative cash flows. Despite manageable debt levels, consistent unprofitability and cash flow issues present substantial risks, necessitating strategic improvements.
Income Statement
40
Negative
Arbutus Biopharma's income statement shows a declining revenue trend with gross profit margins fluctuating significantly. The company has maintained negative net profit margins, indicating consistent unprofitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative, reflecting operational challenges. Although revenue grew slightly in 2020, the overall revenue trajectory is downward, with substantial losses impacting profitability.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet of Arbutus Biopharma reveals a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio, indicating limited leverage. However, the company's return on equity is negative due to ongoing losses, which is a concern for investors. The equity ratio is moderate, suggesting a balanced asset structure, but the continuous decline in equity due to losses poses risks to financial stability.
Cash Flow
35
Negative
Arbutus Biopharma's cash flow statements highlight negative free cash flow, which has worsened over time, pointing to cash flow challenges. The operating cash flow consistently trails net income, indicating poor cash conversion efficiency. The free cash flow to net income ratio remains negative, suggesting difficulties in generating cash from operations.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue15.42M6.17M18.14M39.02M10.99M6.91M
Gross Profit-4.62M4.79M-55.56M37.59M9.23M-40.57M
EBITDA-54.20M-68.40M-70.99M-61.86M-71.64M-57.81M
Net Income-54.25M-69.92M-72.85M-69.46M-77.35M-65.21M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets103.27M131.71M144.40M195.42M204.49M137.08M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments98.09M122.62M126.00M146.91M155.32M123.27M
Total Debt1.09M1.29M8.72M2.19M2.61M2.98M
Total Liabilities20.29M34.34M38.38M58.57M35.05M35.11M
Stockholders Equity82.98M97.37M106.02M136.85M169.44M101.97M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-60.28M-65.03M-86.94M-35.87M-68.34M-51.67M
Operating Cash Flow-60.19M-64.85M-85.94M-35.36M-67.53M-51.44M
Investing Cash Flow28.39M22.95M50.77M-74.94M-12.68M-14.91M
Financing Cash Flow6.43M52.00M30.65M31.81M137.24M86.75M

Arbutus Biopharma Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price3.40
Price Trends
50DMA
3.32
Positive
100DMA
3.30
Positive
200DMA
3.39
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.04
Negative
RSI
58.06
Neutral
STOCH
58.85
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ABUS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 3.4 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.26, above the 50-day MA of 3.32, and above the 200-day MA of 3.39, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.06 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 58.85 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ABUS.

Arbutus Biopharma Risk Analysis

Arbutus Biopharma disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Arbutus Biopharma reported the most risks in the "Tech & Innovation" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Arbutus Biopharma Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
57
Neutral
$1.27B-15.64%-0.54%-6.28%
53
Neutral
$651.78M-52.82%53.23%35.32%
51
Neutral
$7.35B-0.20-44.53%2.35%30.18%-1.17%
49
Neutral
$515.67M-29.22%-2.07%22.52%
49
Neutral
$966.84M-60.98%338.45%-19.64%
45
Neutral
$789.53M-64.40%900.35%70.25%
40
Underperform
$308.61M-69.65%10.36%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ABUS
Arbutus Biopharma
3.35
-0.43
-11.38%
XNCR
Xencor
7.23
-8.74
-54.73%
RCKT
Rocket Pharmaceuticals
2.86
-16.27
-85.05%
NUVB
Nuvation Bio
2.30
-0.45
-16.36%
PRAX
Praxis Precision Medicines
45.94
-6.30
-12.06%
ABCL
AbCellera Biologics
4.25
1.58
59.18%

Arbutus Biopharma Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesLegal ProceedingsFinancial Disclosures
Arbutus Biopharma Appoints New Board Member Amid Strong Q2
Positive
Aug 6, 2025

On August 4, 2025, Anuj Hasija resigned from Arbutus Biopharma‘s Board of Directors, with Dr. Roger Sawhney appointed as his replacement. Dr. Sawhney will also join the Audit and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees. Arbutus reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with a significant increase in revenue due to the reacquisition of Greater China rights to imdusiran. The company is actively involved in ongoing patent infringement litigations against Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, seeking compensation for the use of its LNP technology.

The most recent analyst rating on (ABUS) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Arbutus Biopharma stock, see the ABUS Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Arbutus Biopharma Ends Partnership with Qilu Pharmaceutical
Neutral
Jun 25, 2025

On June 20, 2025, Arbutus Biopharma and Qilu Pharmaceutical mutually agreed to terminate their strategic partnership for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of imdusiran in Greater China and Taiwan, with all rights reverting to Arbutus. This decision aligns with Qilu’s pipeline reprioritization and Arbutus’ focus on advancing its own pipeline efficiently. Additionally, Arbutus announced the formation of a new Scientific Advisory Board, comprising globally recognized leaders in chronic hepatitis B virus treatment, to guide its strategic evaluation of its cHBV pipeline.

The most recent analyst rating on (ABUS) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Arbutus Biopharma stock, see the ABUS Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Arbutus Biopharma Holds Annual Shareholder Meeting
Neutral
May 23, 2025

On May 21, 2025, Arbutus Biopharma Corporation held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, where shareholders elected the company’s director nominees, approved executive compensation, and appointed Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. These decisions are pivotal for Arbutus Biopharma’s governance and operational transparency, potentially impacting its strategic direction and stakeholder confidence.

The most recent analyst rating on (ABUS) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Arbutus Biopharma stock, see the ABUS Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 06, 2025