tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Arcturus Therapeutics (ARCT)
NASDAQ:ARCT
US Market

Arcturus Therapeutics (ARCT) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
2,151 Followers

Top Page

ARCT

Arcturus Therapeutics

(NASDAQ:ARCT)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 50 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:50Neutral
Price Target:
$6.50
▼(-1.96% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/04/26
The score is held back primarily by weak operating performance and negative free cash flow despite a strong, low-leverage balance sheet. Earnings-call updates add moderate support through regulatory/program milestones and an extended cash runway, while technicals are only modestly improved and valuation is constrained by a negative P/E and no dividend.
Positive Factors
Balance Sheet Strength
Low leverage and sizable equity give Arcturus durable financial flexibility to fund clinical programs and absorb R&D timing variability. Combined with a multi-year runway, this reduces near-term refinancing risk and supports strategic partnership or licensing negotiations without immediate dilution.
Regulatory Validation (Costave MHRA)
UK approval for Costave is a structural validation of the sa-mRNA platform, lowering regulatory and technical risk for future programs. Approval enhances commercial credibility, creates a path to recurring product revenue or royalties, and strengthens negotiating leverage with partners and funders long-term.
Platform Immunogenicity Evidence
Durable 8-month immune responses in Phase I provide durable proof-of-concept for the STARR® sa-mRNA platform. External BARDA funding and safety data materially de-risk science, enhance partner interest, and support further government or commercial programs over the coming years.
Negative Factors
Weak Cash Generation
Multi-year negative operating and free cash flow indicates structural cash burn that requires ongoing external funding or milestone revenue. The 2025 increase in burn despite reported net income suggests earnings quality is weak and cash conversion remains a durable constraint on growth and program funding.
Declining Revenue Trend
Sustained revenue declines reduce internal financing capacity and reflect reliance on milestone timing and partner economics. Without a reversal, shrinking top-line constrains reinvestment in R&D, limits scale-up options, and increases dependence on external capital or deal-making to sustain development programs.
Commercial and Clinical Uncertainty
Ongoing CSL discussions and U.S. regulatory uncertainty for Costave create durable commercial unpredictability for milestone and product revenue. Coupled with small early clinical cohorts, this increases execution risk and delays the timing of sustainable revenues and larger confirmatory trials.

Arcturus Therapeutics (ARCT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Arcturus Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionArcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc., an RNA medicines company, focuses on the development of vaccines for infectious, and liver and respiratory rare diseases in the United States. The company's development programs comprise LUNAR-OTC development program for ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency; and LUNAR-CF program for cystic fibrosis lung disease caused by mutations in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, as well as vaccine programs include LUNAR-COV19 and LUNAR-FLU. It has collaboration partnerships with Vinbiocare Biotechnology Joint Stock Company for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop nucleic acid-based therapeutic candidates for the treatment of hepatitis B virus; Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. to develop mRNA therapeutic candidates for rare disease targets; CureVac AG to develop mRNA therapeutic and vaccine candidates for various indications; Singapore Economic Development Board and Duke-NUS Medical School to develop LUNAR-COV19 vaccine; and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to discover siRNA medicines for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyArcturus primarily makes money through (1) collaboration and licensing revenue and (2) government or third-party funding tied to research and development activities; it may also generate (3) product revenue where it has commercialized products, and (4) interest and other income from cash and investments. 1) Collaboration/licensing revenue: As a clinical-stage mRNA company, Arcturus commonly monetizes its platform and product candidates by partnering with larger pharmaceutical companies or regional partners. These agreements typically generate revenue via upfront payments (paid at signing for access to technology or rights), development and regulatory milestone payments (triggered as a program advances through clinical trials and approvals), commercial milestone payments (triggered by launch or sales thresholds), and royalties or profit-sharing on net sales if partnered products reach market. If Arcturus provides services or materials under a partnership (e.g., development work, technology transfer, or manufacturing-related activities), it can recognize revenue based on performance obligations under the contract. 2) Government/third-party R&D funding: For certain vaccine or biodefense-related programs, biotechnology companies like Arcturus may receive funding from government agencies or other organizations to support development. This can be recognized as revenue (depending on the accounting treatment and contract structure) or recorded as offsets to R&D expense. Specific counterparties, amounts, or program details are null. 3) Product revenue: If Arcturus has an approved and commercialized product (directly or via a partner), it can generate revenue from product sales (if it sells directly) or from its share of commercial economics (e.g., royalties or profit share) if commercialization is handled by a partner. Specific marketed products and the extent of direct sales versus partner-based economics are null. 4) Financing-related income: Like many development-stage biotech companies, Arcturus typically holds cash and marketable securities to fund operations. Interest income and changes in investment income can contribute to reported earnings, though these are generally secondary to partnership-related revenue in the long run. Key factors influencing earnings: Because many programs are in development, Arcturus’ revenue can be uneven and driven by the timing of partnership payments, milestones, and funding receipts. Progress in clinical trials, regulatory outcomes, manufacturing scale-up, and the formation or expansion of strategic partnerships materially affect its ability to generate meaningful recurring revenue.

Arcturus Therapeutics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 03, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a balanced picture: several program and platform positives (UK approval for Costave, ARCT-2304 durable immune responses, ARCT-032 advancing to a 12‑week Phase II, ARCT-810 moving toward pivotal discussions) alongside significant near-term financial and commercial challenges (material year-over-year revenue declines, reduced cash balance, ongoing CSL collaboration uncertainty, and early-stage clinical efficacy data in small cohorts). Management highlighted expense reductions and extended runway to Q2 2028, but commercial/regulatory clarity (especially in the U.S. for Costave) and larger clinical datasets are needed to materially de-risk the outlook.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
UK Regulatory Approval for Costave
MHRA granted approval in January 2026 for Costave (self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) for individuals aged 18+, validating commercial/regulatory potential for the sa-mRNA platform.
ARCT-2304 (A/H5N1) Phase I Durable Immune Response
BARDA-funded ARCT-2304 completed Phase I in 212 younger adults and 80 older adults; 8-month follow-up showed durable immune responses across 1.5, 5 and 12 µg doses, with no safety concerns—supporting the STARR® sa-mRNA platform and cell-mediated immunity signal.
ARCT-032 (CF) Advancement to 12-Week Phase II
ARCT-032 progressed from 4-week dosing into a planned 12-week Phase II (initiating dosing H1 2026) enrolling up to ~20 Class I CF patients across U.S. and international sites; 15 mg dosing (4 patients) showed no safety concerns and 10 mg earlier cohort had early signals (4 of 6 subjects had reduced mucus plugs after 28 days).
ARCT-810 (OTC) Moving Toward Pivotal Development
ARCT-810 advancing toward pivotal development with intent to serve both late-onset adult OTC patients and young children with severe disease; Type C regulatory meetings scheduled H1 2026 to clarify paths for adult and pediatric indications.
Cost and Dose Flexibility / Manufacturing Headroom
Company retains dosing flexibility (10 mg chosen for upcoming cohort with ability to dose to 15 mg and historical dosing up to 27 mg) which allows balancing efficacy testing and cost-of-goods considerations (lower dose reduces manufacturing expense).
Operating Expense Reductions and Extended Runway
Annual R&D decreased by $83.0M and annual G&A decreased by $6.7M (quarterly R&D down $19.3M); disciplined refocus extended cash runway into Q2 2028, supporting near-term program milestones.
Negative Updates
Significant Year-over-Year Revenue Decline
Annual revenue decreased by $70.3M year-over-year and quarterly revenue decreased by $15.6M, driven largely by reduced activity and fewer development milestones under the CSL collaboration as Costave moved to commercialization.
Large Reduction in R&D Spend Reflects Program Transition
Annual R&D expense declined by $83.0M (quarterly R&D down $19.3M), primarily due to lower manufacturing and clinical costs as LUNAR-COV19 transitioned to commercial phase and clinical wrap-up in other programs—which may reduce near-term development throughput in some areas.
Cash Balance Decline and Finite Runway
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash fell to $232.8M as of Dec 31, 2025 from $293.9M a year earlier (a decline of $61.1M, ~20.8% YoY); runway extended to Q2 2028 but absolute cash level remains a constraint requiring execution and potential partnership/funding actions.
CSL Collaboration and U.S. Commercial Uncertainty
Revenue reductions tied to CSL collaboration and fewer milestones; company noted U.S. regulatory/administrative challenges for Costave commercialization and that CSL and Arcturus are in active discussions, creating near-term commercial uncertainty.
Clinical Data Still Early and Small Sample Sizes
Key efficacy readouts remain limited: ARCT-032 efficacy signals are preliminary (small cohorts—e.g., 4/6 mucus-plug responders at 10 mg) and 15 mg efficacy data pending; ARCT-810 pivotal path depends on forthcoming Type C feedback—both programs require larger/longer studies to establish efficacy.
Ongoing Legal Uncertainty
Lawsuit against AbbVie and Capstone Therapeutics (filed Sept 23, 2025) remains ongoing and could pose operational or financial uncertainty depending on outcomes.
Company Guidance
Management guided that ARCT‑032 Phase II (12‑week) is on track to initiate dosing in H1 2026 and will enroll up to ~20 Class I CF patients across U.S., Europe and the Middle East with endpoints including percent predicted FEV1 (spirometry), lung clearance index by multiple breath washout, CFQ‑R and EQ‑5D‑5L quality‑of‑life measures and serial HRCT assessments (airway wall thickness, air trapping, mucus plugging); prior cohorts showed early signals at 10 mg and a 15 mg cohort (4 Class I adults dosed once daily for 28 days) had no safety concerns (Arcturus has previously dosed up to 27 mg). For ARCT‑810 (OTC deficiency) Type C regulatory meetings are scheduled in H1 2026 to align adult and severe pediatric pivotal strategies. Partnered Costave (sa‑mRNA COVID vaccine) received MHRA approval in Jan 2026 for ≥18, and ARCT‑2304 (BARDA‑funded A/H5N1) completed Phase I in 212 young and 80 older adults across 1.5/5/12 µg doses with durable 8‑month immune responses and no safety signals. Financially, annual revenue declined $70.3M (quarterly -$15.6M), R&D decreased $83.0M annually (-$19.3M qtr), G&A decreased $6.7M annually (qtr +$1.6M), cash and equivalents were $232.8M at 12/31/2025 (vs. $293.9M at 12/31/2024) and the cash runway was extended into Q2 2028, with management expecting continued G&A reductions over the next 12 months due to lower share‑based compensation.

Arcturus Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Balance sheet is a clear strength with low leverage (debt-to-equity ~0.10) and sizable equity, but operating fundamentals are weak: revenue has declined for multiple years, operating losses persist, and cash flow/free cash flow have been negative in 2023–2025 with worsening burn in 2025. The return to positive net income in 2025 is encouraging but appears driven by non-operating items given the deeply negative operating result and weak cash conversion.
Income Statement
41
Neutral
Results are volatile. Revenue has been shrinking for several years (2025 down ~11% after declines in 2023–2024), and profitability is weak at the operating line with sizable operating losses in 2023–2025. A key positive is that 2025 shows a return to positive net income (about 12% net margin) after large losses in 2023–2024, but the mismatch between positive net income and deeply negative operating profit suggests earnings quality is dependent on non-operating items and is less durable.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Balance sheet strength is the main support. Leverage is low (debt-to-equity roughly 0.10 in 2025, improving from higher levels in 2021–2022), and equity remains sizable, providing flexibility to fund operations. The main weakness is returns on equity have been inconsistent and often negative (improving to modestly positive in 2025), reflecting that capital has not translated into stable operating profitability.
Cash Flow
34
Negative
Cash generation is a concern. Operating cash flow and free cash flow are negative in 2023–2025, with a larger cash burn in 2025 than 2024, despite the rebound to positive net income—highlighting weaker cash conversion. While 2022 showed positive operating and free cash flow, the recent multi-year pattern points to ongoing funding needs unless operations improve materially.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue67.22M138.39M157.75M205.75M12.36M
Gross Profit64.20M138.39M157.75M205.75M12.36M
EBITDA-71.93M-77.40M-24.16M13.70M-201.66M
Net Income-65.78M-80.94M-29.73M9.35M-203.67M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets271.15M344.07M429.40M450.39M392.81M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments230.91M237.03M292.00M391.88M370.49M
Total Debt25.00M28.55M30.22M94.75M69.15M
Total Liabilities57.16M103.09M150.89M180.07M164.60M
Stockholders Equity213.99M240.98M278.51M270.31M228.21M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-74.27M-60.40M-21.00M24.27M-138.45M
Operating Cash Flow-74.27M-59.75M-18.10M31.99M-135.04M
Investing Cash Flow-230.00K-648.00K-2.90M-7.73M-3.41M
Financing Cash Flow13.38M5.42M-24.09M-2.86M48.02M

Arcturus Therapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price6.63
Price Trends
50DMA
7.39
Negative
100DMA
7.83
Negative
200DMA
11.88
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.10
Positive
RSI
36.72
Neutral
STOCH
18.50
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ARCT, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 6.63 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 7.64, below the 50-day MA of 7.39, and below the 200-day MA of 11.88, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.10 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 36.72 is Neutral, 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 ARCT.

Arcturus Therapeutics Risk Analysis

Arcturus Therapeutics disclosed 62 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Arcturus 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

Arcturus 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
73
Outperform
$479.38M2.10240.83%79.13%2798.12%
56
Neutral
$1.16B-4.97-41.51%17.23%
55
Neutral
$4.23B-8.47-32.00%45.66%
52
Neutral
$934.66M-12.74-43.61%-100.00%-28.79%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
50
Neutral
$189.87M-1.44-27.43%-41.53%-11.32%
50
Neutral
$779.04M-9.53-14.25%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ARCT
Arcturus Therapeutics
6.68
-7.48
-52.82%
RIGL
Rigel
25.95
4.92
23.40%
ARVN
Arvinas Holding Company
12.18
3.48
40.00%
CMPX
Compass Therapeutics
5.19
2.84
120.85%
OLMA
Olema Pharmaceuticals
14.71
10.26
230.56%
ERAS
Erasca
13.62
12.16
832.88%
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 04, 2026