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Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS)
:ABUS

Arbutus Biopharma (ABUS) AI Stock Analysis

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ABUS

Arbutus Biopharma

(NASDAQ:ABUS)

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Neutral 49 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:49Neutral
Price Target:
$4.50
▲(2.04% Upside)
Arbutus Biopharma's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its poor financial performance, with significant losses and cash flow challenges. While technical indicators show some strength, the negative valuation metrics and ongoing legal proceedings present risks. Positive developments in clinical trials offer potential upside.
Positive Factors
Clinical Trial Progress
Successful clinical trials are crucial for advancing drug candidates, potentially leading to regulatory approval and commercialization, which can drive long-term revenue growth.
Cash Position
A robust cash position provides financial flexibility to fund ongoing research and development, supporting the company's long-term strategic initiatives.
Patent Litigation
Successful litigation could result in significant compensation, enhancing financial stability and reinforcing Arbutus's competitive position in the biotechnology sector.
Negative Factors
Profitability Challenges
Persistent profitability challenges can hinder the company's ability to reinvest in growth opportunities and may impact long-term financial sustainability.
Negative Cash Flow
Ongoing negative cash flow can strain resources, limiting the company's ability to invest in R&D and potentially affecting future growth prospects.
Revenue Decline
Declining revenue growth suggests challenges in market penetration and product adoption, which could impact long-term business viability.

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 therapeutics for the treatment of viral diseases, particularly hepatitis B (HBV) and other viral infections. The company's core products include a range of RNA interference (RNAi) therapies and other novel antiviral compounds aimed at addressing unmet medical needs in the field of infectious diseases. Arbutus leverages its proprietary technology platforms to advance its drug candidates through various stages of clinical development.
How the Company Makes MoneyArbutus Biopharma generates revenue primarily through collaboration agreements, government grants, and potential milestone payments from its partnerships. The company collaborates with larger pharmaceutical companies to co-develop its drug candidates, which can provide upfront payments, shared research costs, and milestone payments based on the achievement of development goals. Additionally, if any of its products receive regulatory approval and are commercialized, Arbutus would earn royalties on sales. Their revenue model is heavily dependent on the successful advancement of their clinical programs and the strategic partnerships they establish with industry players to enhance development capabilities and market reach.

Arbutus Biopharma Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2024
(Q3-2024)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
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 persistent losses and negative cash flows. Despite a notable revenue growth rate, the company struggles with profitability and cash flow issues. The balance sheet remains stable with low leverage, providing some resilience against financial instability.
Income Statement
35
Negative
Arbutus Biopharma's income statement reveals significant challenges. Despite a notable revenue growth rate of 140.76% in the TTM, the company struggles with profitability, as evidenced by negative net profit margins and EBIT margins. The gross profit margin has also declined compared to previous periods, indicating potential issues in cost management or pricing strategy.
Balance Sheet
45
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a relatively low debt-to-equity ratio, suggesting conservative leverage. However, the return on equity is negative, reflecting ongoing losses and inefficiencies in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio remains stable, indicating a solid capital structure despite operational challenges.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis highlights a concerning trend with negative operating and free cash flows, although there is a slight improvement in free cash flow growth. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, indicating cash flow issues relative to reported earnings. The free cash flow to net income ratio is slightly above 1, suggesting cash flow is aligned with net income despite being negative.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue14.61M6.17M18.14M39.02M10.99M6.91M
Gross Profit-3.17M6.17M18.14M39.02M10.99M-40.57M
EBITDA-44.65M-68.40M-70.99M-61.86M-71.64M-57.76M
Net Income-42.28M-69.92M-72.85M-69.46M-76.25M-63.74M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets97.71M131.71M144.40M195.42M204.49M137.08M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments93.70M122.62M126.00M146.91M155.32M123.27M
Total Debt922.00K1.29M8.72M12.55M18.91M22.54M
Total Liabilities20.31M34.34M38.38M58.57M35.05M35.11M
Stockholders Equity77.40M97.37M106.02M136.85M169.44M101.97M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-45.36M-65.03M-86.94M-35.87M-68.34M-51.67M
Operating Cash Flow-45.27M-64.85M-85.94M-35.36M-67.53M-51.44M
Investing Cash Flow30.35M22.95M50.77M-74.94M-12.68M-14.91M
Financing Cash Flow5.50M52.00M30.65M31.81M137.24M86.75M

Arbutus Biopharma Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price4.41
Price Trends
50DMA
4.47
Positive
100DMA
4.20
Positive
200DMA
3.75
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.07
Negative
RSI
54.16
Neutral
STOCH
55.92
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 4.41 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4.45, below the 50-day MA of 4.47, and above the 200-day MA of 3.75, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.16 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 55.92 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
58
Neutral
$6.65B-20.87-75.20%364.98%-25.33%
56
Neutral
$1.33B-8.75-29.01%-27.61%-69.49%
56
Neutral
$1.81B-6.75-93.04%-4.44%63.58%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
51
Neutral
$893.70M-11.15-29.57%522.13%62.68%
49
Neutral
$892.38M-20.47-45.88%116.64%47.93%
33
Underperform
$1.27B-4.64-96.11%31.16%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ABUS
Arbutus Biopharma
4.64
1.43
44.55%
GERN
Geron
1.40
-2.09
-59.89%
IMTX
Immatics
9.92
3.07
44.82%
IMNM
Immunome
19.78
8.81
80.31%
PRAX
Praxis Precision Medicines
265.86
189.34
247.44%
SANA
Sana Biotechnology
4.78
3.13
189.70%

Arbutus Biopharma Corporate Events

Legal Proceedings
Arbutus Biopharma CEO Discusses Lawsuits Over LNP Technology
Negative
Dec 11, 2025

On December 11, 2025, Lindsay Androski, CEO of Arbutus Biopharma, presented at Roivant Sciences Ltd.’s Investor Day regarding ongoing lawsuits against Moderna, Pfizer, and BioNTech for using Arbutus’s patented LNP technology in COVID-19 vaccines. The litigation involves claims of patent infringement, with court hearings expected in 2026. Arbutus’s legal actions aim to secure compensation for the unauthorized use of their technology, which has been integral to the development of Moderna’s and Pfizer/BioNTech’s vaccines. The outcome of these lawsuits could significantly impact Arbutus’s financial position and its standing in the biotechnology sector.

Legal ProceedingsFinancial Disclosures
Arbutus Biopharma Reports Strong Q3 Financial Results
Positive
Nov 13, 2025

On November 13, 2025, Arbutus Biopharma reported its third quarter financial results, highlighting a strong financial position with $93.7 million in cash and marketable securities. The company announced significant progress in its clinical trials for imdusiran, with 46% of Phase 2a patients meeting criteria to discontinue treatment and 94% of long-term follow-up patients remaining off treatment for over two years. Arbutus is also involved in ongoing litigation with Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech over its LNP technology, with a favorable ruling in the Pfizer-BioNTech case and a trial against Moderna set for March 2026. Financially, the company reported a net loss of $7.7 million for the quarter, a decrease from the previous year, due to cost-cutting measures and a focus on advancing clinical development.

Product-Related AnnouncementsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Arbutus Biopharma Showcases Data at Liver Meeting 2025
Positive
Oct 7, 2025

On October 7, 2025, Arbutus Biopharma announced that four abstracts featuring data on their products imdusiran and AB-101 were accepted for presentation at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases – The Liver Meeting 2025. The AB-101 abstract was notably selected as a Poster of Distinction. These presentations highlight the safety and potential efficacy of imdusiran in enhancing treatment responses in chronic hepatitis B patients and the promising pharmacodynamics of AB-101, which may strengthen Arbutus’s position in the biopharmaceutical industry focused on infectious diseases.

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: Dec 11, 2025