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Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA)
NASDAQ:AKBA

Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) AI Stock Analysis

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AKBA

Akebia Therapeutics

(NASDAQ:AKBA)

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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$1.50
▲(11.94% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by balance-sheet leverage and a still-fragile profitability track record, plus a clearly bearish technical trend. These are partially offset by improving TTM cash generation/operating performance and constructive earnings-call fundamentals around Vafseo uptake, with corporate updates adding both upside optionality and regulatory/strategy risk.
Positive Factors
Commercial traction of Vafseo
Strong early prescription momentum and expanding prescriber uptake indicate durable product-market fit within the dialysis ecosystem. This drives a recurring revenue base tied to chronic dialysis care, supports payer negotiations, and creates a foundation for sustained sales growth as access expands.
Improving cash generation and margins
Return to positive operating cash flow and strong gross margins materially improves financial flexibility. Sustainable cash generation funds commercialization and early pipeline work without immediate dilutive financing, reducing execution risk and enabling reinvestment in durable growth drivers.
Pipeline expansion into rare kidney diseases
Acquiring AKB-097 and advancing praliciguat diversifies reliance on Vafseo and targets higher-value rare kidney indications. Building a mid-stage rare disease franchise can create multiple long-term revenue streams and strategic optionality to leverage commercial infrastructure.
Negative Factors
High leverage and thin equity cushion
Elevated leverage and a historically thin/negative equity base constrain financial flexibility, increasing vulnerability to revenue volatility. High debt ratios raise refinancing and interest risks, limiting the company’s ability to fund trials, manufacturing scale-up, or opportunistic M&A without dilutive financing.
Regulatory setback limits label expansion
Failure to align with FDA on VALOR’s design removes a path to a much larger non-dialysis CKD market, materially constraining total addressable market expansion. This makes long-term growth more dependent on dialysis uptake and narrows strategic options for commercial scale.
Operational and adherence execution risks
Logistics, adherence and inventory transition issues can slow durable adoption among dialysis providers and patients. Persistent execution frictions reduce realized demand, strain provider relationships, and create revenue volatility that undermines predictable scaling of a chronic-care product.

Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Akebia Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAkebia Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for patients with kidney diseases. The company's lead product investigational product candidate is vadadustat, an oral therapy, which is in Phase III development for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis dependent adult patients. It also offers Auryxia, a ferric citrate that is used to control the serum phosphorus levels in adult patients with DD-CKD on dialysis; and the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients with CKD not on dialysis. Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. has collaboration agreements with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for the development and commercialization of vadadustat in the United States, the European Union, Russia, China, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and other countries; and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation for the development and commercialization of vadadustat in Japan and other Asian countries, as well as research and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV for the development and commercialization of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase targeted compounds worldwide. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
How the Company Makes MoneyAkebia Therapeutics makes money through the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for kidney-related conditions. The company's revenue model is primarily based on product sales, licensing agreements, and collaboration partnerships. Akebia generates revenue from sales of its approved therapies and through strategic partnerships with other pharmaceutical companies, which may include milestone payments and royalties. These partnerships help in the co-development, marketing, and distribution of its products, significantly contributing to its revenue streams. The company's financial performance is influenced by the regulatory approval of its products, market demand, and the competitive landscape in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Akebia Therapeutics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 10, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a mix of strong prescription growth and financial improvements, offset by operational and adherence challenges impacting Vafseo's rollout. While revenue and patient access have grown significantly, the company faces hurdles in addressing logistics and adherence issues to sustain this growth.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Vafseo Prescription Milestone
Vafseo has generated more total prescriptions in the first 41 weeks of launch than any recent launch in dialysis, reflecting strong reception from the dialysis community.
Significant Increase in Patient Access
Accessible patients increased from 40,000 in the first half of the year to almost 70,000 by the end of Q3, with further expansion expected with DaVita and other providers.
Revenue Growth
Total revenues increased to $58.8 million in Q3 2025 from $37.4 million in Q3 2024, with net product revenues rising to $56.8 million from $35.6 million.
Positive Financial Performance
Reported a net income of approximately $540,000 in Q3 2025 compared to a net loss of $20 million in Q3 2024, driven by increased net product revenues.
Negative Updates
Operational Challenges
Delays in aligning logistics and processes for Vafseo's delivery have impacted the speed of patient adoption, especially in transitioning to home delivery.
Adherence Issues
Lower than expected adherence rates at USRC, attributed to anemia managers switching patients back to ESA instead of titrating Vafseo dosage.
Inventory Transition Impact
The transition to 300-milligram tablets for in-center use at USRC might impact inventory levels and new patient starts in Q4 2025.
Company Guidance
During the third quarter of 2025, Akebia highlighted several key metrics and strategic developments in their financial results conference call. Vafseo, their lead product for treating anemia in dialysis patients, generated $14.3 million in revenue, with more total prescriptions in its first 41 weeks of launch than any recent dialysis launch. The company expanded accessible patient numbers from 40,000 to almost 70,000 by the end of Q3, significantly increasing prescribing access to over 260,000 patients. This growth was bolstered by a successful DaVita pilot, which extended Vafseo's availability to over 200,000 patients. Despite operational challenges, such as aligning logistics for home delivery and improving patient adherence, Akebia is working swiftly with dialysis providers to overcome these hurdles. The quarter also saw Vafseo's Win-Odds analysis from the INNO2VATE trial presented, showing a lower risk of death or hospitalization compared to ESA control, which the company expects will drive future prescribing growth. Financially, Akebia reported total revenues of $58.8 million, a significant increase from $37.4 million in the same period last year, and achieved a net income of approximately $540,000.

Akebia Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Akebia Therapeutics is facing financial challenges across all aspects of its financial statements. Revenue and profitability are declining, leverage is high, and cash flow is negative, posing risks to financial stability. The company needs to address these issues to improve its financial health.
Income Statement
62
Positive
Akebia Therapeutics shows a declining revenue trend with a significant reduction from previous years. Gross Profit Margin has improved, but the company remains unprofitable with negative Net Profit Margin and EBIT Margin. Overall, the income statement highlights ongoing challenges in achieving profitability.
Balance Sheet
38
Negative
The balance sheet reveals high leverage with negative stockholders' equity, indicating financial instability. The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is not calculable due to negative equity, and the company has been unable to maintain a positive Return on Equity. Equity Ratio is negative, suggesting more liabilities than assets.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Operating cash flow remains negative, reflecting ongoing operational cash burn. Free Cash Flow is also negative, although there is some improvement in reducing cash outflows. However, the company's ability to generate cash remains a concern, affecting overall financial health.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue225.07M160.18M194.62M292.48M211.65M294.64M
Gross Profit177.46M97.00M120.47M269.99M130.16M230.68M
EBITDA21.23M-13.72M-8.27M3.06M-189.91M-139.83M
Net Income-15.90M-69.41M-51.92M-94.23M-282.02M-384.84M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets364.15M220.67M241.70M356.05M529.35M644.14M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments166.44M51.87M42.92M90.47M149.80M269.08M
Total Debt52.58M188.73M104.18M99.78M136.05M126.28M
Total Liabilities322.56M269.86M272.29M350.82M455.34M396.52M
Stockholders Equity41.59M-49.19M-30.58M5.23M74.01M247.62M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow32.17M-40.69M-23.38M-73.27M-253.02M-110.70M
Operating Cash Flow32.40M-40.66M-23.38M-73.15M-252.97M-110.39M
Investing Cash Flow-51.00K-33.00K0.00-114.00K39.94M-40.00M
Financing Cash Flow100.10M49.66M-25.21M14.60M133.73M231.72M

Akebia Therapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.34
Price Trends
50DMA
1.63
Negative
100DMA
2.25
Negative
200DMA
2.66
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.09
Positive
RSI
29.93
Positive
STOCH
18.50
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AKBA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.34 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.55, below the 50-day MA of 1.63, and below the 200-day MA of 2.66, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.09 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 29.93 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 18.50 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AKBA.

Akebia Therapeutics Risk Analysis

Akebia Therapeutics disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Akebia Therapeutics reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Akebia 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
67
Neutral
$1.04B35.7514.03%27.12%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
51
Neutral
$366.21M-17.6132.49%65.88%
50
Neutral
$948.83M-1.71-49.06%-78.55%7.74%
48
Neutral
$685.90M-4.002.35%
45
Neutral
$927.59M-5.17-51.98%-75.31%
41
Neutral
$1.55B-13.45-23.05%63.85%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AKBA
Akebia Therapeutics
1.34
-0.73
-35.27%
ORKA
Oruka Therapeutics
32.50
20.25
165.31%
TBPH
Theravance Biopharma
20.11
11.53
134.38%
VIR
Vir Biotechnology
6.20
-3.91
-38.67%
PROK
ProKidney
2.18
0.52
31.33%
AVBP
ArriVent BioPharma, Inc.
21.90
-2.51
-10.28%

Akebia Therapeutics Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresProduct-Related Announcements
Akebia Therapeutics Outlines 2026 Vafseo Strategy and Pipeline
Positive
Jan 12, 2026

On January 12, 2026, Akebia Therapeutics announced corporate updates and a 2026 pipeline outlook that underscore its bid to make Vafseo a standard-of-care treatment for anemia due to chronic kidney disease in dialysis while building a broader rare kidney disease franchise. In 2025, the company secured broad prescribing access to roughly 275,000 dialysis patients, advanced large post-marketing trials such as the VOICE and VOCAL studies to compare Vafseo with erythropoietin stimulating agents, and increased Vafseo prescriber numbers and demand despite a Q4 2025 revenue impact from inventory adjustments tied to a new observed dosing protocol at U.S. Renal Care. Akebia expects Vafseo revenue growth to resume in the first quarter of 2026 as access, adherence and compliance improve, and is simultaneously progressing a mid-stage rare kidney disease pipeline, including dosing the first patient in a Phase 2 praliciguat trial for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in December 2025, planning a Phase 2 basket study of AKB-097 in multiple complement-mediated kidney diseases from the second half of 2026 with initial data in 2027, and moving AKB-9090 into Phase 1 for acute kidney injury associated with cardiac surgery, positioning its revenue-generating products to fund pipeline expansion and potential long-term growth.

The most recent analyst rating on (AKBA) stock is a Buy with a $5.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Akebia Therapeutics stock, see the AKBA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Akebia Therapeutics Acquires Global Rights to ADX-097
Positive
Dec 1, 2025

On November 28, 2025, Akebia Therapeutics acquired the global rights to ADX-097, a clinical-stage development candidate from Q32 Bio, for the treatment of rare kidney diseases. This acquisition, along with the establishment of a rare kidney disease pipeline, marks a significant step for Akebia, as it plans to initiate Phase 2 trials for both ADX-097 and praliciguat in 2026, aiming to address unmet needs in rare kidney diseases and strengthen its market position.

The most recent analyst rating on (AKBA) stock is a Buy with a $6.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Akebia Therapeutics stock, see the AKBA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
Akebia Therapeutics Amends License Agreement with MEDICE
Positive
Nov 17, 2025

On November 12, 2025, Akebia Therapeutics and MEDICE Arzneimittel Putter GmbH & Co. KG amended their existing license agreement, allowing MEDICE to manufacture Vafseo tablets for treating anemia in chronic kidney disease patients in Europe and certain other regions. This amendment includes Akebia supplying the drug substance vadadustat and retaining ownership of any intellectual property arising from the manufacturing process, potentially strengthening Akebia’s market position and operational capabilities in the nephrology sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (AKBA) stock is a Buy with a $6.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Akebia Therapeutics stock, see the AKBA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
Akebia Therapeutics Halts VALOR Trial for Vadadustat
Negative
Oct 28, 2025

On October 28, 2025, Akebia Therapeutics announced that it will not proceed with the VALOR clinical trial for vadadustat, intended to treat anemia in late-stage CKD patients not on dialysis, due to a lack of alignment with the FDA on trial design. This decision means Akebia will not pursue a broader label for Vafseo in non-dialysis CKD patients, impacting its market strategy and potentially affecting stakeholders by focusing on smaller subgroups of CKD patients for future trials.

The most recent analyst rating on (AKBA) stock is a Buy with a $8.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Akebia Therapeutics stock, see the AKBA 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: Jan 12, 2026