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Atara Biotherapeutics Inc (ATRA)
NASDAQ:ATRA

Atara Biotherapeutics (ATRA) AI Stock Analysis

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ATRA

Atara Biotherapeutics

(NASDAQ:ATRA)

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Neutral 43 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:43Neutral
Price Target:
$5.00
▼(-68.33% Downside)
The score is primarily held down by weak financial performance (negative equity and ongoing cash burn) and very bearish technicals (price far below key moving averages with negative MACD). A highly negative corporate event (FDA CRL for EBVALLO) further increases risk, while the low P/E provides only partial support given the underlying uncertainty.
Positive Factors
High gross and improving operating margins
Sustained TTM gross margin above 80% and a shift to positive EBIT/EBITDA indicate durable product-level economics and improving operational efficiency. If commercialized, these margin dynamics support scalable profitability and a stronger operating leverage profile over the medium term.
Commercial partnership with Pierre Fabre
Having Pierre Fabre as a U.S. commercialization partner and transferring the BLA shifts regulatory and launch execution burdens to an established pharma partner. Their plan to seek a Type A meeting and revised milestone structure provides regulatory engagement and non-dilutive funding optionality, reducing solo execution risk.
Restructuring to reduce fixed costs
A deep restructuring with ~90% headcount cuts and lease downsizing materially reduces fixed operating expenses. This permanent cost-base reduction can extend runway, lower recurring burn, and allow management to focus capital on core programs, improving the firm's structural cash profile.
Negative Factors
Regulatory setback for lead asset
The CRL reverses prior FDA alignment and deems the single‑arm ALLELE trial inadequate, creating major regulatory uncertainty. This may require new evidence, additional trials, or prolonged negotiations, delaying approval, increasing development costs, and threatening the commercial outlook for the lead asset.
Negative stockholders' equity
Negative stockholders' equity signals deep balance sheet strain and limits borrowing capacity. For a capital‑intensive biotech, this reduces financial flexibility to fund trials or commercialization, likely necessitating dilutive financing or asset sales and increasing long‑term execution risk.
Ongoing cash burn and limited cash resources
Persistent negative operating and free cash flows, coupled with disclosures of year‑end cash around $8.5M, imply limited runway after restructuring. Continued cash burn will require milestone receipts, partner funding, or capital raises, raising dilution risk and stressing near‑term program continuity.

Atara Biotherapeutics (ATRA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Atara Biotherapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAtara Biotherapeutics, Inc., an off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapy company, develops treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune, and viral diseases in the United States. It is developing tabelecleucel, a T-cell immunotherapy that is Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of epstein-barr virus (EBV) driven post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, as well as hematologic and solid tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The company is also developing next-generation CAR T immunotherapies for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including ATA2271 and ATA3271 for mesothelin; and ATA2431 and ATA3219 for B-cell malignancies, as well as ATA188 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In addition, it develops ATA368 program for patients with human papillomavirus associated cancers. Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. has a license agreement with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; license, and research and development collaboration agreement with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute; and strategic collaboration with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, as well as Bayer AG for mesothelin-targeted CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyAtara Biotherapeutics generates revenue primarily through collaborations, grants, and clinical trial partnerships. The company may receive milestone payments and royalties from strategic partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies that help fund its research and development efforts. Significant partnerships can include co-development agreements or licensing deals, where Atara provides its technology and expertise in exchange for financial support and shared profits on future product sales. Additionally, the company may receive funding from government grants or public and private investors, particularly for its innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs.

Atara Biotherapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are strained: revenue declined in the TTM period, cash flow remains negative (ongoing cash burn), and the balance sheet shows negative stockholders’ equity (financial instability). Positives include strong TTM gross margin and improvement to positive EBIT/EBITDA margins, but overall risk remains elevated.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Atara Biotherapeutics has shown inconsistent revenue growth with a notable decline in the TTM period. While the gross profit margin remains strong at over 81% in TTM, the net profit margin is low at 3.07%, indicating limited profitability. The company has improved from negative EBIT and EBITDA margins in previous years to positive margins in TTM, reflecting operational improvements.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet reveals a negative stockholders' equity, indicating financial instability. The debt-to-equity ratio is negative due to negative equity, which is concerning. Return on equity is also negative, reflecting poor returns for shareholders. The equity ratio is not calculable due to negative equity, highlighting potential financial distress.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis shows a slight improvement in free cash flow growth. However, both operating and free cash flows remain negative, indicating cash burn. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, suggesting inefficiencies in converting income to cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is slightly above 1, showing some alignment between cash flow and reported earnings.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue151.93M128.94M8.57M63.57M20.34M0.00
Gross Profit124.03M107.93M-313.00K63.57M-261.66M-244.65M
EBITDA30.50M-75.75M-266.00M-222.26M-331.12M-300.72M
Net Income23.40M-85.40M-276.13M-228.30M-340.14M-306.62M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets30.17M109.10M165.50M376.42M468.13M588.12M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments13.71M42.50M51.73M242.82M371.07M500.66M
Total Debt58.60M43.83M57.87M71.70M28.27M15.03M
Total Liabilities66.80M206.38M264.74M249.78M188.51M125.78M
Stockholders Equity-36.63M-97.28M-99.23M126.64M279.61M462.34M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-69.80M-68.96M-194.20M-274.62M-231.10M-185.27M
Operating Cash Flow-69.71M-68.72M-192.98M-270.43M-220.52M-180.76M
Investing Cash Flow13.08M8.62M123.87M202.96M22.26M-120.73M
Financing Cash Flow15.77M59.28M2.01M53.08M103.94M427.57M

Atara Biotherapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price15.79
Price Trends
50DMA
12.10
Negative
100DMA
12.94
Negative
200DMA
11.24
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-2.25
Negative
RSI
26.58
Positive
STOCH
19.25
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ATRA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 15.79 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.03, above the 50-day MA of 12.10, and above the 200-day MA of 11.24, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -2.25 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 26.58 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 19.25 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ATRA.

Atara Biotherapeutics Risk Analysis

Atara Biotherapeutics disclosed 68 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Atara Biotherapeutics 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

Atara Biotherapeutics Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
53
Neutral
$184.24M-1.06-49.18%-33.76%17.54%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
50
Neutral
$202.71M-0.97-63.96%-28.50%
49
Neutral
$54.56M-0.81-76.44%-10.03%11.06%
48
Neutral
$109.44M-1.41-81.13%-9.70%23.23%
43
Neutral
$35.04M2.0651.27%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ATRA
Atara Biotherapeutics
4.51
-6.00
-57.09%
MGNX
MacroGenics
1.70
-1.07
-38.63%
ZNTL
Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
2.21
0.05
2.31%
SRZN
Surrozen
21.25
10.15
91.44%
TCRX
TScan Therapeutics
0.91
-1.46
-61.60%

Atara Biotherapeutics Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresProduct-Related AnnouncementsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
FDA Rejects Atara’s EBVALLO BLA, Commercial Path Uncertain
Negative
Jan 12, 2026

On January 12, 2026, Atara Biotherapeutics reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Complete Response Letter for EBVALLO (tabelecleucel), rejecting its Biologics License Application as a monotherapy for EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in adults and children, despite previously resolving manufacturing compliance issues and raising no new safety concerns. The FDA, reversing its earlier stance, now deems the single-arm ALLELE trial inadequate to demonstrate effectiveness for accelerated approval, prompting Atara’s U.S. commercialization partner Pierre Fabre to seek a Type A meeting as the companies work to salvage a path forward for the therapy, while Atara continues a deep restructuring marked by a roughly 90% headcount reduction in 2025, amended commercialization milestones, a significant lease downsizing, and year-end 2025 cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of about $8.5 million, subject to audit.

The most recent analyst rating on (ATRA) stock is a Hold with a $18.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Atara Biotherapeutics stock, see the ATRA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Atara revises tab-cel commercialization milestones with Pierre Fabre
Neutral
Jan 2, 2026

On December 30, 2025, Atara Biotherapeutics amended its commercialization agreement with Pierre Fabre Medicament, reducing potential regulatory milestone payments tied to FDA approval of a BLA for tab-cel from $40 million to $31 million in exchange for the opportunity to earn an additional $15 million milestone based on achieving a specified commercial milestone. The revised structure adjusts the balance between regulatory and commercial incentives, potentially aligning Pierre Fabre’s financial commitments more closely with tab-cel’s market performance and affecting the timing and composition of future milestone revenues for Atara.

The most recent analyst rating on (ATRA) stock is a Buy with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Atara Biotherapeutics stock, see the ATRA 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 23, 2026