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Apellis Pharmaceuticals Inc (APLS)
NASDAQ:APLS

Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) AI Stock Analysis

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APLS

Apellis Pharmaceuticals

(NASDAQ:APLS)

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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$18.50
▲(3.41% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/03/26
The score reflects an improving financial foundation (profitability and free cash flow turning positive, deleveraging) and a generally positive earnings call with commercial traction and pipeline progress. These positives are tempered by weak technicals (price below key moving averages with negative momentum) and a very high P/E alongside near-term net-revenue headwinds from gross-to-net/free goods dynamics.
Positive Factors
SYFOVRE Market Leadership
Sustained injection growth and ~60% share in geographic atrophy indicate structural market leadership tied to long-term clinical differentiation (5‑year data) and payer preference. This creates a durable revenue base from recurring intravitreal dosing and entrenched physician adoption.
EMPAVELI Early Launch & Payer Access
Early adoption metrics plus broad payer coverage establish durable commercial access in a concentrated, ultra‑rare market. Strong reimbursement and initial starts reduce commercialization risk and support a multiyear uptake path toward the company's stated addressable patient population.
Improved Cash Generation & Capital Structure
Transition to positive operating and free cash flow, a sizable cash balance, and materially lower leverage enhance financial flexibility. This durable improvement supports self-funding of pivotal trials and reduces near-term refinancing risk versus prior years of heavy cash burn.
Negative Factors
Revenue Volatility and One-Time Items
A sharp FY2025 revenue decline combined with a sizable one‑time Sobi payment obscures organic growth trends, making underlying demand harder to gauge. This complicates multi‑period forecasting and raises the risk that revenue can re‑reverse if underlying adoption weakens.
High Gross-to-Net and Free Goods Usage
Persistently elevated free goods and growing gross‑to‑net deductions structurally reduce net realized price and cash conversion from product sales. For recurring therapies, continued reliance on assistance programs can compress sustainable margins and lengthen the path to profitable scale.
Near-Term Financing & Higher R&D/Opex
A material convertible maturity coupled with planned higher operating spend to fund pivotal programs increases near‑term liquidity needs despite improved cash. This elevates execution risk: the company may need to raise capital, reallocate cash, or slow investments, affecting timelines and potential dilution.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionApellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic compounds through the inhibition of the complement system for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company's lead product candidate is pegcetacoplan that is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) diseases. It also develops EMPAVELI (systemic pegcetacoplan) for the treatment of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA) in hematology; C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), and immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) in nephrology; and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in neurology. In addition, the company develops APL-2006, a bispecific C3 and VEGF inhibitor for treating complement-mediated disorders; APL-1030, a C3 inhibitor for the treatment of multiple neurodegenerative diseases; and the combination of EMPAVELI and a small interfering RNA, or siRNA for reducing the production of C3 proteins by the liver. It has a collaboration and license agreement with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (publ) to co-develop pegcetacoplan; and a research collaboration with Beam Therapeutics Inc. focused on the use of Beam's base editing technology to discover new treatments for complement-driven diseases. Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.
How the Company Makes MoneyApellis makes money primarily through (1) net product revenue from selling its approved drugs and (2) collaboration/partner-related economics. 1) Net product revenue (drug sales) - SYFOVRE (pegcetacoplan injection): Apellis generates revenue from U.S. sales of SYFOVRE through specialty pharmaceutical distribution channels used for retina therapies. Demand is driven by prescribing by retina specialists and ongoing patient treatment, as SYFOVRE is administered via intravitreal injection and may be used on a recurring dosing schedule. - EMPAVELI (pegcetacoplan): Apellis generates revenue from sales of EMPAVELI for PNH. As a chronic condition therapy, revenues depend on patient starts, duration on therapy, reimbursement access, and competitive dynamics in the PNH market. Net product revenue generally reflects gross sales less standard deductions such as rebates, chargebacks, discounts, returns, and allowances (specific figures not provided here). 2) Partnerships, collaborations, and other revenue - Sobi partnership (ex-U.S. EMPAVELI): Apellis partnered with Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB (Sobi) for commercialization of pegcetacoplan for hematology indications outside the United States. Apellis’ earnings from this arrangement can include payments such as upfront or milestone payments and/or royalties or profit-share related to ex-U.S. sales; specific payment structure details and amounts are null. - Other collaboration-related income: Apellis may also generate revenue from licensing arrangements, milestones, or cost reimbursements tied to development/commercial activities; specific counterparties and amounts beyond publicly known major partnerships are null. Key factors influencing earnings - Market adoption and persistence of SYFOVRE and EMPAVELI (prescriber uptake, patient adherence, competitive therapies). - Pricing and reimbursement (payer coverage decisions, Medicare/insurance dynamics, patient assistance). - Safety/labeling and clinical data that can affect demand. - Partner execution in territories commercialized by collaborators and achievement of any contractual milestones (details/amounts null).

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down total revenue by business segments, offering a clear view of which areas contribute most to the company's financial health and where strategic focus might be needed.
Chart InsightsApellis Pharmaceuticals has seen robust growth in its Product segment, driven by the successful launch of EMPAVELI and SYFOVRE. The recent FDA approval of EMPAVELI for C3 glomerulopathy and IC-MPGN is expected to further boost revenue, despite challenges like free drug programs impacting SYFOVRE's earnings. The company's strategic expansion and strong market leadership position it well for future growth, with a solid cash reserve supporting pipeline advancements. However, operational challenges in patient access and co-pay assistance could pose risks to sustained revenue growth.
Data provided by:The Fly

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 24, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized multiple commercial and scientific positives: robust EMPAVELI early launch metrics (>5% market penetration, 267 start forms), SYFOVRE injection growth (~17% YoY) and strong 5‑year clinical data, a progressing pipeline with upcoming readouts and regulatory milestones, and a solid cash position ($466M). Offsetting these strengths are near-term revenue headwinds from elevated free goods and high gross-to-net adjustments (mid‑to‑high‑20% range), seasonal and quarter-to-quarter variability for launches in ultra-rare populations, modestly higher 2026 operating expenses to fund pivotal trials, and a $94M convertible debt maturing in 2026. Overall, the highlights around commercial traction, data readouts, pipeline advancement and financial flexibility outweigh the challenges, though execution risks and revenue timing uncertainty remain.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Full-Year Revenue with One-Time Benefit
Total revenue for FY2025 was $1.0 billion, which includes a one-time $275 million upfront payment from the Sobi royalty repurchase agreement that materially contributed to full-year results.
SYFOVRE Commercial Momentum — Injection Growth
SYFOVRE total injections grew approximately 17% year‑over‑year in 2025, demonstrating underlying demand and resilience despite revenue headwinds; Q4 SYFOVRE net product revenue was $155 million and full-year net product revenue was $587 million.
Compelling 5-Year GALE Data for SYFOVRE
Post-hoc 5-year GALE extension data showed SYFOVRE delayed progression of geographic atrophy by approximately 1.5 years in nonsubfoveal GA versus sham, supporting long-term clinical benefit and differentiation.
EMPAVELI Early Launch Outperformance
EMPAVELI achieved more than 5% market penetration after its first full quarter on the market, reported U.S. net product revenue of $35 million in Q4 and $102 million for FY2025, and accumulated 267 cumulative patient start forms by year-end, signaling strong early uptake.
Broad Payer Coverage for EMPAVELI
Published payer policies reimburse EMPAVELI to label or with minimal restrictions for approximately 95% of policies, supporting access and adoption.
Durable Market Position in Geographic Atrophy
SYFOVRE continues to lead the GA market with roughly 60% market share and is supported by extensive clinical and real-world evidence (including 5-year data), preferred payer status and initiatives to improve workflow and adoption.
Pipeline Advancement and Milestones
Key pipeline progress: pivotal trials underway for EMPAVELI in FSGS and DGF; Phase II combo (SYFOVRE + APL-3007) ongoing with topline expected in 2027; IND for APL-9099 (FcRn base editing) planned in H2 2026; prefilled syringe regulatory submission targeted in H1 2026; OCT-F research availability planned H2 2026.
Scientific and Publication Recognition
EMPAVELI data published in the New England Journal of Medicine and multiple oral presentations at Macula Society and other conferences reinforce clinical credibility and physician receptivity.
Solid Cash Position and Financial Flexibility
Cash and cash equivalents of $466 million at year-end 2025, supporting near-term operations and self-funding ambitions for the pipeline while providing flexibility to address capital needs.
Negative Updates
SYFOVRE Revenue Impacted by Elevated Free Goods
Full-year SYFOVRE revenue was modestly down versus 2024 largely due to elevated use of free goods (approximate free goods range of 12%–14% through 2025), which reduced reported net revenue despite higher injections.
High Gross-to-Net Adjustments
SYFOVRE gross-to-net adjustments in Q4 trended just above the mid-20% range, and management expects gross-to-net in the high-20% range in 2026, exerting pressure on net realized revenue.
Quarter-to-Quarter Variability and Seasonality Risks
Management highlighted typical seasonal dynamics (e.g., Medicare reverifications, holidays) and potential quarter-to-quarter variability for EMPAVELI due to ultra-rare disease patient flow, adding uncertainty to near-term revenue cadence.
Operating Expense Increase and Future Investment Needs
Operating expenses rose to $251 million in Q4 2025 (from $239 million prior-year Q4); 2026 guidance anticipates modestly higher operating expenses due to pivotal trial investments and milestone payments, partially offset by reduced SG&A.
Convertible Debt Maturity
Approximately $94 million of convertible debt matures in September 2026; management is evaluating alternatives to address this obligation, representing a near-term financing consideration.
Uncertainty Around Patient Assistance Program Dynamics
Third-party co-pay assistance programs began reopening to new patients late in the period, but visibility on how much patient access and free goods utilization will change over time remains limited and could affect future net sales.
Revenue Comparability Affected by One-Time Items
Full-year 2025 revenue comparability is materially influenced by the one-time $275 million Sobi-related payment, complicating a straight-line assessment of underlying organic revenue growth.
Company Guidance
Apellis guided that 2026 will see gross-to-net for SYFOVRE move to the high‑20% range (from just above the mid‑20% in Q4), with net price expected to remain relatively stable and a modest inventory reduction in Q1 amid typical seasonal Medicare reverifications; operating expenses are expected to be modestly higher in 2026 (Q4 opex was $251M vs $239M LY) due to pivotal trials (FSGS, DGF) and milestones but partially offset by lower SG&A, while the company exited 2025 with $466M cash, ~ $94M convertible debt maturing in September, and expects to self‑fund the pipeline. For context, full‑year 2025 revenue was $1.0B (Q4 $200M) including a $275M one‑time Sobi payment; SYFOVRE net product revenue was $155M in Q4 and $587M FY with ~102,000 Q4 doses delivered (≈89,000 commercial, ≈13,000 free goods), total injections up ~17% YoY and free‑goods use ~12–14% in 2025; EMPAVELI U.S. net product revenue was $35M in Q4 and $102M FY, achieved >5% market penetration after its first full quarter, had 267 cumulative patient start forms at year‑end, 95% of published payer policies reimbursing to label or with minimal restrictions, and management reiterated a path to blockbuster potential (addressable ~5,000 U.S. C3G/IC‑MPGN patients with up to 50% peak penetration).

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are improving: 2025 turned to positive operating profit/net income and positive operating/free cash flow (~$45M), while leverage fell to a modest level (debt-to-equity ~0.30). Offsetting this, 2025 revenue declined sharply (-32%) and results have been volatile, keeping the profile “improving but still uneven.”
Income Statement
58
Neutral
Profitability inflected meaningfully in 2025 as the company moved to positive operating profit and net income (about 3% net margin) after large losses in 2021–2024. Gross margins remain very strong (~85%+), consistent with an attractive product economics profile. The key offset is growth volatility: revenue fell sharply in 2025 (-32%) following a strong ramp in 2023–2024, which raises questions around durability and near-term momentum.
Balance Sheet
66
Positive
Leverage improved substantially in 2025: debt is modest versus equity (debt-to-equity ~0.30) compared with elevated leverage in 2024 (~2.06). Equity increased and returns turned positive in 2025 (about 6% return on equity) after deeply negative returns in prior years, signaling a cleaner capital structure and improving financial flexibility. A remaining watch item is the history of large losses in prior years, which can re-emerge if revenue softness persists.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash generation turned positive in 2025 with operating cash flow and free cash flow both positive (~$45M), a clear improvement versus materially negative cash burn in 2021–2024. Free cash flow roughly matched net income in 2025, suggesting earnings quality improved. The main weakness is that free cash flow declined versus 2024 (down ~42%), and the prior-year pattern shows meaningful cash flow volatility.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.00B781.37M396.59M75.42M66.56M
Gross Profit901.55M663.64M338.08M69.79M61.36M
EBITDA70.00M-154.53M-495.21M-617.39M-731.27M
Net Income22.39M-197.88M-528.63M-652.17M-746.35M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.08B885.05M788.73M760.22M881.76M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments467.76M416.14M352.30M551.80M701.23M
Total Debt486.31M469.78M110.93M112.71M210.22M
Total Liabilities705.11M656.51M594.21M590.35M683.10M
Stockholders Equity370.15M228.54M194.52M169.87M198.66M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow45.01M-88.27M-595.51M-515.27M-564.23M
Operating Cash Flow45.33M-87.87M-594.74M-513.75M-563.13M
Investing Cash Flow-313.00K-403.00K-674.00K59.89M247.62M
Financing Cash Flow8.88M149.24M394.50M365.66M392.24M

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price17.89
Price Trends
50DMA
21.68
Negative
100DMA
22.36
Negative
200DMA
22.50
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.01
Positive
RSI
27.48
Positive
STOCH
19.03
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For APLS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 17.89 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 20.33, below the 50-day MA of 21.68, and below the 200-day MA of 22.50, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 27.48 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 19.03 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for APLS.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Risk Analysis

Apellis Pharmaceuticals disclosed 74 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Apellis Pharmaceuticals 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

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
66
Neutral
$5.53B-169.72-8.53%53.66%58.63%
56
Neutral
$2.29B141.408.20%42.11%
55
Neutral
$3.77B-8.91-41.46%-21.96%
55
Neutral
$1.16B-3.74-67.12%-157.74%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
51
Neutral
$2.14B-11.01-22.81%23.73%30.16%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
APLS
Apellis Pharmaceuticals
17.97
-6.18
-25.59%
ZLAB
Zai Lab
18.61
-18.72
-50.15%
CRNX
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
35.82
1.49
4.34%
MIRM
Mirum Pharmaceuticals
90.72
42.85
89.51%
MLTX
MoonLake Immunotherapeutics
16.68
-24.01
-59.01%

Apellis Pharmaceuticals Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Apellis Pharmaceuticals Adds Mikael Dolsten to Board
Positive
Mar 2, 2026

On February 27, 2026, Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ board elected Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., as an independent Class I director, effective March 1, 2026, with a term running until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, reflecting a continuation of standard U.S. public company governance practices. Dolsten, who has no family or related-party ties to existing management or directors and no underlying arrangements for his election, will receive stock options and RSUs valued at $300,000 each under Apellis’ 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, with multi-year and change-in-control vesting features that align his incentives with long-term shareholder interests while also benefiting from an indemnification agreement customary for the company’s board members.

The most recent analyst rating on (APLS) stock is a Buy with a $48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Apellis Pharmaceuticals stock, see the APLS 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: Mar 03, 2026