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Aclaris Therapeutics (ACRS)
NASDAQ:ACRS
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Aclaris Therapeutics (ACRS) AI Stock Analysis

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ACRS

Aclaris Therapeutics

(NASDAQ:ACRS)

Rating:55Neutral
Price Target:
$1.50
▼(-14.29% Downside)
Aclaris Therapeutics' overall stock score reflects its financial challenges, with negative profitability and cash flow issues being significant concerns. However, positive technical indicators and promising corporate events, such as successful clinical trials and strategic growth plans, provide a more optimistic outlook. The valuation remains a concern due to the negative P/E ratio, but the company's strategic initiatives could improve future performance.
Positive Factors
Clinical Trials
Aclaris Therapeutics reported strong proof-of-concept results for its ITK/JAK3 inhibitor in atopic dermatitis with high tolerability and rapid responses.
Product Development
ACRS is developing a pair of recently in-licensed antibody assets, indicating continued pipeline progress and potential future growth.
Safety Profile
The favorable safety profile of ATI-2138, if sustained, is expected to provide a key competitive advantage against approved JAK inhibitors.
Negative Factors
Conflicts of Interest
Investors should be aware of potential conflicts of interest as Wedbush Securities seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports.
Study Design and Sample Size
Compared to the atopic dermatitis clinical landscape, '2138's treatment effect is competitive, though the study's design and sample size are noted.

Aclaris Therapeutics (ACRS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Aclaris Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAclaris Therapeutics, Inc. operates a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops novel drug candidates for immune-inflammatory diseases in the United States. It operates through two segments: Therapeutics and Contract Research. The Therapeutics segment is involved in identifying and developing innovative therapies to address significant unmet needs for immuno-inflammatory diseases. The Contract Research segment engages in the provision of laboratory services. The company also develops Zunsemetinib, an MK2 inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid and Psoriatic arthritis, and Hidradenitis suppurativa; and ATI-1777, a soft JAK 1/3 inhibitor for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. In addition, it develops ATI-2138, an ITK/TXK/JAK3 inhibitor as a potential treatment for T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases; Gut-Biased Program for inflammatory bowel disease; and ATI-2231, an MK2 inhibitor treatment for pancreatic and metastatic breast cancer. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyAclaris Therapeutics generates revenue primarily through the development and commercialization of its therapeutic products. The company may receive funding through various streams, including upfront payments and milestone payments from partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies, as well as royalties on product sales. Additionally, Aclaris may also generate revenue from licensing agreements that allow other companies to develop or market its drug candidates. The company actively seeks collaborations to enhance its research capabilities and expand its market reach, which contributes to its overall earnings.

Aclaris Therapeutics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 06, 2025
(Q1-2024)
|
% Change Since: 12.90%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 05, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlights Aclaris' strong financial position and promising advancement of ATI-2138, despite some challenges in cash reserves and competitive landscape considerations. The company is making strategic moves in its drug development with a focus on efficiency and differentiation.
Q1-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Position
Aclaris ended the first quarter with $161 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, with no outstanding debt. This positions the company well financially for upcoming initiatives.
Advancement of ATI-2138
Decision to move ATI-2138 forward in a proof-of-concept study for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, showing promising preclinical and Phase I results.
Cost Containment Success
Cost containment initiatives are on track, with significant reductions in cash expenditures expected for the remainder of the year.
Potential Best-in-Class Treatment
ATI-2138 shows potential as a best-in-class dual inhibitor of ITK and JAK3, designed to treat autoimmune diseases with a favorable safety profile.
Negative Updates
Decreased Cash Reserves
Cash reserves decreased from $182 million at year-end to $161 million at the end of Q1, partly due to nonrecurring payments related to discontinued programs and severance.
Indication Reevaluation Required
Reevaluation of indication selection for ATI-2138 was necessary, indicating potential prior misalignment in strategy.
Competitive Landscape Challenges
The competitive landscape in atopic dermatitis is evolving, with a need to differentiate ATI-2138 from existing treatments, such as upadacitinib and biologics like dupilumab.
Company Guidance
During the Aclaris Therapeutics Q1 2024 earnings call, several key metrics and strategic updates were provided. The company ended the first quarter with cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaling $161 million, down from $182 million at the end of the previous year. Approximately $14 million of the expenditures in the first quarter were related to nonrecurring payments. Aclaris has decided to advance ATI-2138, their oral small molecule ITK JAK3 inhibitor, into a Phase II proof-of-concept study targeting atopic dermatitis. The study is designed as an open-label trial involving 15 patients over 12 weeks, with a focus on safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and early efficacy signals. Joseph Monahan highlighted that ATI-2138 is 44.4 times more potent than ritlecitinib in blocking ITK-dependent cytokine production and 5.4 times more potent in JAK3-dependent readouts. Financially, Aclaris is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet with ongoing cost containment initiatives and exploring business development opportunities to source nondilutive capital.

Aclaris Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Aclaris Therapeutics faces significant challenges in achieving profitability and positive cash flow, despite a strong balance sheet with no debt and substantial cash reserves. Revenue growth is inconsistent, and ongoing losses suggest a need for strategic changes to improve operational efficiency. The company's ability to maintain financial health is contingent on continued access to external financing and cost management improvements.
Income Statement
40
Negative
Aclaris Therapeutics has experienced fluctuating revenue growth, with a decline from 2023 to 2024. The company struggles with profitability, indicated by substantial negative EBIT, EBITDA, and net income margins. Gross profit margin is relatively high, suggesting effective cost management at the gross level, but significant operating losses highlight challenges in controlling other expenses.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet displays a strong equity position with zero debt in 2024, leading to a healthy equity ratio. However, consistent losses have eroded equity over time. The company maintains significant cash reserves which provide a buffer against operational losses, but the lack of profitability poses a long-term risk.
Cash Flow
50
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals negative operating cash flow, indicating a reliance on external financing to sustain operations. Free cash flow remains negative, although there is a slight improvement in cash flow stability compared to previous years. The company is capable of raising capital, as evidenced by positive financing cash flows.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue16.79M18.72M31.25M29.75M6.76M6.48M
Gross Profit4.06M15.93M13.17M17.79M2.05M1.35M
EBITDA-56.29M-51.72M-87.98M-84.36M-64.46M-50.01M
Net Income-134.65M-132.06M-88.48M-86.91M-90.86M-51.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets189.15M220.33M197.41M254.60M251.21M70.78M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments99.81M113.59M119.11M217.57M191.41M54.13M
Total Debt2.37M2.60M3.50M2.25M2.89M14.15M
Total Liabilities57.41M64.77M40.23M56.98M53.87M33.13M
Stockholders Equity131.74M155.55M157.18M197.62M197.34M37.65M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-45.86M-20.20M-79.63M-68.17M-52.44M-39.09M
Operating Cash Flow-9.99M-20.07M-78.33M-67.57M-52.13M-38.63M
Investing Cash Flow-61.76M-69.77M46.22M12.63M-167.63M6.39M
Financing Cash Flow74.32M74.54M26.71M72.87M225.05M18.37M

Aclaris Therapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1.75
Price Trends
50DMA
1.58
Positive
100DMA
1.45
Positive
200DMA
2.00
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.07
Negative
RSI
58.84
Neutral
STOCH
62.02
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACRS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.66, above the 50-day MA of 1.58, and below the 200-day MA of 2.00, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.84 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.02 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ACRS.

Aclaris Therapeutics Risk Analysis

Aclaris Therapeutics disclosed 72 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Aclaris Therapeutics 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

Aclaris Therapeutics Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
61
Neutral
$212.34M-87.94%3.89%7.92%
55
Neutral
$193.91M-101.41%-47.56%-65.54%
53
Neutral
$143.54M-1552.23%22.56%41.62%
51
Neutral
$7.77B-0.12-39.78%2.21%22.68%-1.42%
45
Neutral
$222.84M-207.57%54.17%-2.43%
43
Neutral
$57.72M-48.46%0.85%29.83%
42
Neutral
$85.64M-44.24%0.93%13.99%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ACRS
Aclaris Therapeutics
1.75
0.54
44.63%
NOTV
Inotiv
1.74
0.18
11.54%
MDXH
MDxHealth
3.07
0.20
6.97%
STIM
Neuronetics
3.38
2.42
252.08%
XGN
Exagen
9.98
6.86
219.87%
SERA
Sera Prognostics
2.38
-5.05
-67.97%

Aclaris Therapeutics Corporate Events

Product-Related AnnouncementsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Aclaris Therapeutics Announces Positive Phase 2a Trial Results
Positive
Jul 29, 2025

On July 29, 2025, Aclaris Therapeutics announced the top-line results of their Phase 2a clinical trial for ATI-2138, an investigational oral covalent ITK/JAK3 inhibitor, in subjects with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. The trial showed that ATI-2138 was well tolerated with no severe adverse events, and demonstrated significant efficacy, with a mean improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Score (EASI) of 77% over 12 weeks, excluding outliers. This development could enhance Aclaris’ positioning in the treatment of immuno-inflammatory diseases, offering a promising therapeutic option for patients and potentially impacting future market strategies.

Product-Related AnnouncementsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Aclaris Therapeutics Highlights Clinical Pipeline and Outlook
Positive
Jun 30, 2025

On June 30, 2025, Aclaris Therapeutics updated its corporate overview presentation, highlighting its robust clinical pipeline and financial outlook. The company is advancing several drug candidates, including bosakitug, ATI-052, and ATI-2138, with ongoing clinical trials and expected data releases in 2025. Aclaris anticipates its current cash reserves will fund operations through the first half of 2028, with potential for additional non-dilutive financing. The announcement underscores Aclaris’ strategic positioning for growth and its commitment to developing innovative therapies for immuno-inflammatory diseases.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Aclaris Therapeutics Approves 2025 Equity Incentive Plan
Positive
Jun 5, 2025

On June 5, 2025, Aclaris Therapeutics‘ stockholders approved the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan, succeeding the 2015 plan, during their annual meeting. Additionally, they approved an amendment to increase the authorized common stock shares from 200 million to 400 million, reflecting strategic growth intentions. The meeting also resulted in the election of three board directors, approval of executive compensation, and ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the accounting firm for 2025.

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 14, 2025