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Ironwood Pharma (IRWD)
NASDAQ:IRWD

Ironwood Pharma (IRWD) AI Stock Analysis

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IRWD

Ironwood Pharma

(NASDAQ:IRWD)

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Neutral 58 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:
$5.00
▲(2.25% Upside)
The score is mainly held back by balance-sheet risk (high debt and negative equity) despite improved TTM profitability and positive free cash flow. Technicals are constructive with price above major moving averages, but RSI indicates stretched momentum. Valuation is a headwind with a higher P/E and no dividend support, partially offset by a positive corporate event that reduces legal uncertainty.
Positive Factors
Positive free cash flow
Sustained positive free cash flow (~$67.7M TTM) is a durable strength: it funds operations, supports R&D and potential milestone payments, and provides some buffer for debt servicing. Over 2–6 months this underpins financial flexibility despite leverage.
Rebounded profitability
A clear rebound to positive net income (~$28.5M TTM) and healthier operating margins indicates the core Linzess business remains profitable. This improves internal funding capacity and reduces reliance on external capital for near-term strategic initiatives.
Legal/IP clarity from Ferring settlement
Resolving litigation and amending license terms with Ferring removes a multi-year legal overhang and clarifies IP and commercial economics. That structural resolution enables clearer planning for development, partnerships, and potential monetization of the licensed portfolio.
Negative Factors
High leverage and negative equity
A sizable debt load (~$598M) combined with negative equity (~-$264M) materially weakens capital structure. This heightens refinancing and covenant risk, constrains strategic optionality, and leaves less room to absorb downturns or fund pipeline investments without added financing.
Top-line volatility and revenue decline
Inconsistent revenue and prior-year declines reduce confidence in sustainment of cash flows from Linzess. Persistent top-line volatility complicates long-term planning, raises forecast risk for R&D spend, and magnifies impact of any competitive or pricing pressure on a concentrated product base.
New royalty and payment obligations
The Ferring amendment imposes immediate payments ($12.5M) and multi-year tiered royalties, increasing fixed and variable cash outflows. These recurring obligations reduce net margin and slow balance-sheet repair, limiting free cash available for debt reduction and reinvestment.

Ironwood Pharma (IRWD) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Ironwood Pharma Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionIronwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a healthcare company, focuses on the development and commercialization of gastrointestinal (GI) products. It markets linaclotide, a guanylate cyclase type-C agonist for the treatment of adults suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) under the LINZESS name in the United States and Mexico, as well as under the CONSTELLA name in the Canada and European Union. The company is also developing IW-3300, a GC-C agonist for the treatment of visceral pain conditions, including interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and endometriosis; and CNP-104, an immune nanoparticle for the treatment of biliary cholangitis. The company has strategic partnerships with AbbVie Inc., AstraZeneca AB, and Astellas Pharma Inc. for the development and commercialization of linaclotide. The company was formerly known as Microbia, Inc. and changed its name to Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in April 2008. Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
How the Company Makes MoneyIronwood Pharmaceuticals generates revenue primarily through the sales of its flagship product, Linzess, which is marketed in collaboration with AbbVie. The company earns royalties from its partner on sales of Linzess, in addition to receiving milestone payments tied to sales performance. Other revenue streams may include licensing agreements and collaborations that provide upfront payments and development milestones. The company's focus on expanding its product pipeline and potential new indications for existing therapies also contributes to its earnings potential.

Ironwood Pharma Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 27, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong demand growth for LINZESS and promising data for apraglutide, suggesting potential future growth. However, concerns about pricing headwinds from Medicare Part D redesign and cash liquidity tempered the overall outlook.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Apraglutide's Potential for Market Expansion
The data from the STARS Extend study showed that 27 patients achieved enteral autonomy, reinforcing apraglutide's potential as a blockbuster therapy for short bowel syndrome. The NDA submission is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.
LINZESS Demand Growth
LINZESS saw a 12% increase in prescription demand growth in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023. For the full year 2024, there was an 11% prescription demand growth year-over-year, and new-to-brand volume growth was 14%.
Financial Performance and Guidance
Ironwood achieved its 2024 financial guidance with $916 million in net sales. The company expects continued strong demand growth for LINZESS in 2025, despite anticipated pricing headwinds.
Debt Reduction Efforts
Ironwood reduced its total debt balance by approximately $115 million in 2024, ending the year with $385 million drawn on its credit facility.
Negative Updates
Pricing Headwinds Due to Medicare Part D Redesign
The redesign of Medicare Part D, which went into effect earlier this year, poses a pricing headwind for LINZESS, potentially impacting revenue despite strong demand.
Cash and Liquidity Concerns
Ironwood ended 2024 with $88.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, which may be seen as limited given the company's debt obligations and the need to fund apraglutide's launch.
Company Guidance
During the Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Fourth Quarter 2024 Investor Update Conference Call, the company provided guidance for the upcoming year. They expect U.S. LINZESS net sales to range between $800 million and $850 million, forecasting high single-digit prescription demand growth despite potential pricing headwinds due to Medicare Part D redesign. Ironwood anticipates total revenue between $260 million and $290 million and adjusted EBITDA, excluding stock-based compensation, to exceed $85 million. The company aims to complete the NDA submission for apraglutide by the third quarter of 2025, with prelaunch activities underway for its potential commercialization. Ironwood reported $916 million in LINZESS net sales for 2024 and projects its cash flows will support the development and launch of apraglutide, with a focus on delivering sustained profits and reducing debt. The company ended 2024 with $88.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $385 million in debt, having repaid $115 million over the year.

Ironwood Pharma Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability has rebounded TTM (net income ~$28.5M) and free cash flow remains positive (~$67.7M), but revenue and earnings have been volatile and the balance sheet is the main weakness with high debt (~$598M) and negative equity (~-$264M), elevating financial risk.
Income Statement
64
Positive
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows a clear rebound in profitability (net income of ~$28.5M vs. near-breakeven in 2024) with solid operating profitability and healthy margins. However, the top line has been inconsistent—2024 revenue declined versus 2023, and results were highly volatile in prior years (including a major loss in 2023), which lowers confidence in earnings stability despite the recent improvement.
Balance Sheet
28
Negative
Leverage is a key concern: total debt remains sizable (~$598M TTM) while shareholders’ equity is negative (about -$264M TTM), signaling a weakened capital structure and reduced balance-sheet flexibility. While total assets are stable, negative equity and debt-heavy funding increase financial risk and limit resilience if operating performance softens.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation is positive, with TTM operating cash flow and free cash flow around ~$67.7M, and free cash flow closely tracking reported earnings. That said, cash flow has stepped down meaningfully versus the prior year (2024 operating cash flow of ~$103.5M), and the debt paydown capacity implied by current cash flow is more constrained given the debt load.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue338.99M351.41M442.74M410.60M413.75M389.52M
Gross Profit311.56M343.86M436.59M409.18M343.35M386.39M
EBITDA146.90M97.73M197.41M261.44M233.74M141.90M
Net Income28.55M880.00K-1.00B175.06M528.45M106.18M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets396.06M350.91M471.07M1.10B1.13B559.24M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments140.41M88.56M92.15M656.20M620.13M364.30M
Total Debt598.24M599.48M715.54M415.92M475.80M453.70M
Total Liabilities660.22M652.24M817.37M448.14M521.02M496.60M
Stockholders Equity-264.16M-301.33M-346.30M652.38M605.91M62.64M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow67.65M103.41M183.15M273.63M261.63M166.99M
Operating Cash Flow67.68M103.55M183.43M273.76M261.89M168.84M
Investing Cash Flow-35.00K-142.00K-1.03B-136.00K-265.00K-1.84M
Financing Cash Flow-14.79M-106.97M277.16M-237.55M-4.55M18.55M

Ironwood Pharma Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price4.89
Price Trends
50DMA
3.91
Positive
100DMA
2.81
Positive
200DMA
1.81
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.37
Positive
RSI
61.02
Neutral
STOCH
48.47
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IRWD, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 4.89 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4.67, above the 50-day MA of 3.91, and above the 200-day MA of 1.81, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.37 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 61.02 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 48.47 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for IRWD.

Ironwood Pharma Risk Analysis

Ironwood Pharma disclosed 45 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Ironwood Pharma 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 3 New Risks
1.
We may be unable to successfully integrate the business and personnel of VectivBio, and may not realize the expected benefits and anticipated synergies of such acquisition. Q4, 2023
2.
We cannot give any assurance that apraglutide will be successful in clinical trials, and if successful, will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before it can be commercialized. Q4, 2023
3.
We may be unable to maintain the benefits associated with orphan drug designation, including market exclusivity, which may harm our business. Q4, 2023

Ironwood Pharma 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
$1.82B-40.55-7.14%26.73%-310.39%
72
Outperform
$1.45B28.5822.96%26.34%-32.79%
66
Neutral
$1.84B50.207.83%48.87%
64
Neutral
$883.66M46.042.90%3.14%
58
Neutral
$795.50M31.67-10.42%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
46
Neutral
$1.31B-7.35-17.46%-1.19%5.06%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
IRWD
Ironwood Pharma
4.89
2.79
132.86%
DVAX
Dynavax
15.49
2.55
19.67%
PCRX
Pacira Pharmaceuticals
20.54
-5.21
-20.23%
ANIP
ANI Pharmaceuticals
81.85
23.94
41.34%
EVO
Evotec AG
3.65
-0.66
-15.31%
COLL
Collegium Pharmaceutical
45.92
14.72
47.18%

Ironwood Pharma Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyLegal Proceedings
Ironwood Pharma Resolves Ferring Dispute, Amends License Terms
Positive
Dec 23, 2025

On December 18, 2025, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ subsidiary VectivBio AG amended its exclusive license agreement with Ferring International Center to revise financial and intellectual property terms, including a total payment obligation of $12.5 million—an initial $7.5 million followed by $5 million due by December 31, 2026, subject to possible acceleration—alongside new tiered royalty commitments on net sales of licensed products. Under the revised structure, VectivBio will pay Ferring a high single-digit royalty for seven years following first commercial sale of each licensed product and a reduced low single-digit royalty thereafter until relevant patent coverage expires, while the amendment also clarifies ownership and other IP rights; on the same date, VectivBio, Ironwood and Ferring entered into a settlement and release resolving all claims related to Ferring’s lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, removing a legal overhang and providing clearer economic and IP terms around the licensed portfolio.

The most recent analyst rating on (IRWD) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ironwood Pharma stock, see the IRWD Stock Forecast page.

Product-Related AnnouncementsRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Ironwood Pharma’s LINZESS® Price Set by HHS
Neutral
Nov 26, 2025

On November 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the ‘Maximum Fair Price’ for LINZESS® (linaclotide) as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The new Medicare net price, effective January 1, 2027, will be $136 for a 30-day supply, aligning with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals’ expectations.

The most recent analyst rating on (IRWD) stock is a Hold with a $3.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Ironwood Pharma stock, see the IRWD 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 06, 2026