Esperion Therapeutics (ESPR)
NASDAQ:ESPR
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Esperion
(NASDAQ:ESPR)
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Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
$3.00
▲(47.06% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:05/09/26
The score is held back primarily by weak financial resilience (negative equity and continued negative free cash flow) despite meaningful operating improvement. Technicals are supportive with strong trend signals, while valuation is constrained by ongoing losses and no dividend support. Earnings-call commentary adds a modest positive tilt due to strong commercial momentum and clearer operational plans, tempered by 2026 comparability and execution/expense risks.
Positive Factors
Multi-year Revenue & Margin Inflection
A multi-year revenue inflection with sustained operating profitability indicates product-market fit and scalable commercial leverage. Rising sales and a ~20% operating margin suggest the core bempedoic acid franchise can generate durable operating earnings as commercial adoption grows.
Negative Factors
Negative Stockholders’ Equity
Persistent negative equity and meaningful leverage constrain financial flexibility and increase refinancing and covenant risk. Even with improving operations, a weak capital base makes the company more vulnerable to setbacks, limiting ability to fund growth or absorb shocks without external financing.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Multi-year Revenue & Margin Inflection
A multi-year revenue inflection with sustained operating profitability indicates product-market fit and scalable commercial leverage. Rising sales and a ~20% operating margin suggest the core bempedoic acid franchise can generate durable operating earnings as commercial adoption grows.
Read all positive factors
Esperion (ESPR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$805.76M
Dividend YieldN/A
Average Volume (3M)16.96M
Price to Earnings (P/E)―
Beta (1Y)1.98
Revenue Growth61.13%
EPS Growth92.51%
CountryUS
Employees304
SectorHealthcare
Sector Strength45
IndustryBiotechnology
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)-0.02
Shares Outstanding257,431,950
10 Day Avg. Volume10,698,901
30 Day Avg. Volume16,961,828
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.56
Price to Book (P/B)-2.55
Price to Sales (P/S)1.91
P/FCF Ratio-58.74
Enterprise Value/Market Cap0.93
Enterprise Value/Revenue1.79
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit2.75
Enterprise Value/Ebitda9.68
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$2.92Price Target Upside43.30% Upside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering7
EPS Forecast (FY)-0.04
Revenue Forecast (FY)$387.62M
Esperion Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes medicines for the treatment of patients with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Its lead product candidates are NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET (b...
How the Company Makes Money
Esperion primarily generates revenue from commercial sales of its cholesterol-lowering medicines and from collaboration/partner economics tied to ex-U.S. markets. Key revenue streams include: (1) Product revenue from U.S. sales of NEXLETOL and NEX...
Esperion Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Mar 10, 2026
(Q4-2025)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Aug 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presented multiple strong commercial and financial highlights: record revenue growth (Q4 +144%), meaningful U.S. product momentum (U.S. sales +38%; Rx equivalents +34%; prescribers +~25%), expanding international adoption (Daiichi +51% royalties; >700,000 patients treated), a stronger balance sheet ($167.9M cash and $55M debt paid), and a strategic acquisition (Corstasis/Enbumyst) that broadens market opportunity. Lowlights were largely transitional or one-time in nature: a large nonrecurring collaboration payment in 2025 that reduces revenue comparability in 2026, rising SG&A/legal costs tied to litigation, modestly higher R&D and operating expense guidance to fund integration and launches, and near-term uncertainty from guideline timing and competitive entrants. Overall, the positives — robust growth, global rollout, pipeline advancement, and a transformative acquisition — outweigh the manageable near-term challenges and one-time items.Positive Updates
Transformational Acquisition of Corstasis / Enbumyst
Announced planned acquisition of Corstasis Therapeutics to gain global rights to Enbumyst (FDA-approved intranasal diuretic) and a subcutaneous pipeline; transaction expected to close in Q2 2026 and provides entry into a >$4 billion U.S. outpatient heart failure market with immediate cross-selling synergies.
Negative Updates
One-Time Collaboration Revenue Creates FY2026 Visibility Gaps
Q4 collaboration revenue benefited from a nonrecurring $90 million Otsuka payment; management confirmed there will not be a comparable milestone in 2026, making year-over-year comparability and partner revenue forecasting more uncertain.
Read all updates
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive
Negative
Transformational Acquisition of Corstasis / Enbumyst
Announced planned acquisition of Corstasis Therapeutics to gain global rights to Enbumyst (FDA-approved intranasal diuretic) and a subcutaneous pipeline; transaction expected to close in Q2 2026 and provides entry into a >$4 billion U.S. outpatient heart failure market with immediate cross-selling synergies.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
The call provided clear near-term financial and timing guidance: full-year 2026 operating expenses are now expected to be $225–$255 million (including about $15 million of non‑cash stock compensation); Esperion ended 2025 with $167.9 million in cash and $55 million less debt after paying the 2025 convertible note stub; the planned Corstasis/Enbumyst acquisition (Enbumyst approved Sept 2025) is expected to close in Q2 2026; triple‑combination programs are targeted for completion of clinical/regulatory requirements to commercialize in 2027; ESP‑2001 is in IND‑enabling studies with a planned clinic start by year‑end 2026; and management noted recent operating metrics driving momentum — Q4 total revenue $168.4 million (+144% YoY), U.S. net product revenue $43.7 million (+38% YoY), collaboration revenue $124.7 million (+~232% YoY, including a ~ $90 million one‑time Otsuka payment), retail prescription equivalents +34%, unique prescribers up nearly 25%, Daiichi Sankyo Europe Q4 royalty revenue +51% and >700,000 patients treated — while cautioning there won’t be a repeat of the large one‑time milestone in 2026 and partner revenue dynamics and tech‑transfer activity will be moving parts during the year.Esperion Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
55
Neutral
Balance Sheet
24
Negative
Cash Flow
30
Negative
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 418.24M | 403.13M | 332.31M | 116.33M | 75.47M | 78.45M |
| Gross Profit | 271.85M | 273.91M | 263.71M | 73.07M | 48.51M | 64.23M |
| EBITDA | 77.18M | 60.27M | 7.57M | -150.11M | -176.35M | -222.14M |
| Net Income | -7.42M | -22.68M | -51.74M | -209.25M | -233.66M | -269.11M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 462.53M | 465.89M | 343.82M | 205.80M | 247.94M | 381.59M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 156.16M | 167.85M | 144.76M | 82.25M | 166.86M | 259.33M |
| Total Debt | 252.63M | 548.00M | 591.21M | 540.95M | 260.95M | 260.20M |
| Total Liabilities | 770.46M | 767.85M | 732.54M | 660.79M | 571.72M | 578.53M |
| Stockholders Equity | -307.93M | -301.96M | -388.72M | -454.99M | -323.78M | -196.94M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -18.19M | -13.09M | -23.97M | -135.49M | -174.83M | -263.81M |
| Operating Cash Flow | -18.19M | -13.09M | -23.65M | -135.49M | -174.83M | -263.81M |
| Investing Cash Flow | 0.00 | 0.00 | -317.00K | 42.50M | 8.10M | -50.48M |
| Financing Cash Flow | 59.90M | 36.18M | 86.48M | 50.46M | 32.61M | 268.22M |
Esperion Technical Analysis
Positive
2.04
Price Trends
2.59
Positive
2.95
Positive
2.92
Positive
Market Momentum
0.19
Negative
71.96
Negative
55.56
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ESPR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2.04 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.89, below the 50-day MA of 2.59, and below the 200-day MA of 2.92, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.19 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 71.96 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 55.56 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ESPR.
Esperion Risk Analysis
Esperion disclosed 74 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Esperion 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
Esperion Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
61 Neutral | $435.99M | 15.84 | -1.59% | ― | -29.89% | 93.33% | |
56 Neutral | $805.76M | -6.83 | 1.99% | ― | 61.13% | 92.51% | |
56 Neutral | $335.67M | -27.74 | 10.62% | ― | -22.07% | -58.28% | |
56 Neutral | $401.06M | -6.28 | 174.92% | ― | 9.56% | 24.52% | |
54 Neutral | $375.84M | -12.05 | -1.00% | ― | 1.57% | 89.16% | |
53 Neutral | $342.27M | -1.35 | -0.07% | ― | 12.19% | 1.97% | |
51 Neutral | $7.86B | -0.30 | -43.30% | 2.27% | 22.53% | -2.21% |
* Healthcare Sector Average
ESPR
Esperion
3.13
2.31
282.17%
EBS
Emergent Biosolutions
8.45
2.13
33.70%
SIGA
SIGA Technologies
4.68
-0.70
-12.98%
ORGO
Organogenesis Holdings
2.66
-0.31
-10.44%
EOLS
Evolus
6.09
-3.72
-37.92%
SNDL
SNDL
1.45
0.16
12.40%
Esperion Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyDelistings and Listing ChangesM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Esperion agrees to $1.1 billion ARCHIMED buyout
Positive
May 1, 2026
On May 1, 2026, Esperion announced a definitive agreement under which funds managed by healthcare-focused private equity firm ARCHIMED will acquire the company in an all-cash transaction valued at up to about $1.1 billion. The deal will see shareh...
Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
Esperion Completes Corstasis Acquisition, Expands Cardiovascular Portfolio
Positive
Apr 2, 2026
On April 2, 2026, Esperion Therapeutics amended its existing credit agreement to add a $25 million term loan, resetting call protection terms that impose make-whole and stepped prepayment premiums for up to four years. On the same date, the compan...
Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Esperion to Acquire Corstasis, Expanding Heart Failure Portfolio
Positive
Mar 3, 2026
On March 2, 2026, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Corstasis Therapeutics Inc. via a merger in which Corstasis will become a wholly owned subsidiary, for an upfront cash payment of $75 million plu...
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.