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ReproCELL Inc. (JP:4978)
:4978
Japanese Market

ReproCELL Inc. (4978) AI Stock Analysis

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JP:4978

ReproCELL Inc.

(4978)

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Neutral 59 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
¥187.00
▲(30.77% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by mixed fundamentals: a very strong, low-debt balance sheet and improving margins/profitability are offset by continued operating losses and negative free cash flow. Technicals add support with price above key moving averages and positive MACD, but overbought momentum indicators increase near-term risk. Valuation is a headwind due to a negative P/E and no stated dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Very low leverage / strong balance sheet
Near-zero debt and steady equity growth give ReproCELL durable financial flexibility to fund R&D, absorb cyclical demand swings, and pursue partnerships or M&A without solvency pressure. Low leverage materially reduces long-term refinancing and covenant risk.
Improved margins and revenue rebound
Higher gross margin and a revenue inflection suggest improving product mix or pricing power in consumables and services. Durable margin expansion supports operating leverage potential and makes sustained profitability more achievable as sales scale.
Net income turned positive
Net income turning positive marks a structural inflection from multi-year losses to profitability. Combined with rising equity, this creates a stronger capital base to reinvest in product development and customer expansion without immediate dilution.
Negative Factors
Weak cash generation / negative free cash flow
Earnings are not converting reliably into cash: small operating cash flow and negative free cash flow limit the firm's ability to self-fund growth, pay down obligations, or build cash cushions, increasing reliance on external financing for durable investments.
Operating profit still negative
Persistent EBIT losses show that SG&A and operating costs still outpace gross profit despite margin gains. This structural gap needs sustained revenue scale or cost adjustment to secure lasting operating profitability and cash flow stability.
Low returns on shareholder capital
ROE near zero reflects limited efficiency in generating shareholder returns from equity capital. Unless profitability and cash conversion improve materially, the company may struggle to justify reinvestment or attract long-term capital at competitive terms.

ReproCELL Inc. (4978) vs. iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

ReproCELL Inc. Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionReproCELL Incorporated operates as a stem cell research company in Japan. It offers stem cell reagents, including RNA reprogramming, small molecules, growth factors and cytokines, antibodies and staining kits, pluripotent stem cell culture media, cell substrates, cryopreservation media, dissociation solution, and transfection reagents; differentiated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and related reagents, feeder cells, and induced neurons; and 3D cell culture; and labware. The company also provides preclinical genomics, stem cell research, drug efficacy, safety, & ADME, human tissue samples, therapeutic pipeline, clinical laboratory services, clinical diagnostic services, and gmp ipsc master cell bank services. ReproCELL Incorporated was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Yokohama, Japan.
How the Company Makes MoneyReproCELL Inc. generates revenue primarily through the sale of its proprietary stem cell products, reagents, and technologies that support drug discovery and regenerative medicine research. The company earns income by providing contract research services to pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions, enabling them to utilize ReproCELL's specialized technologies and expertise. Additionally, the company may form strategic partnerships or collaborations with other biotechnology companies to co-develop products or leverage mutual strengths, contributing to its revenue streams.

ReproCELL Inc. Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial profile is mixed: profitability improved with net income turning positive and gross margin rising to ~55%, and the balance sheet is very strong with effectively zero debt. However, operating profit remains negative and cash conversion is weak, with free cash flow still meaningfully negative in 2025.
Income Statement
52
Neutral
Revenue growth has been uneven but improved in the most recent year (+9.6% in 2025 after a decline in 2024). Profitability has clearly inflected upward: net income turned positive in 2025 (from losses in 2021–2024) and gross margin expanded to ~55% (vs. ~46% in 2024). Offsetting this, operating profit remains negative (EBIT loss in 2025), indicating the core cost structure is still not consistently covered by gross profit despite the margin improvement.
Balance Sheet
83
Very Positive
The balance sheet is a key strength: total debt is effectively zero in 2025 (and debt-to-equity is 0.0), providing high financial flexibility and low solvency risk. Equity has grown steadily (2021–2025), supporting a rising asset base. The main weakness is low returns on shareholders’ capital—return on equity is only ~1.1% in 2025 and was negative in prior years—reflecting that profitability is still in an early-stage recovery.
Cash Flow
34
Negative
Cash generation remains the primary concern. Operating cash flow is only slightly positive in 2025 (about ¥6M) after multiple years of negative operating cash flow, and free cash flow is still meaningfully negative in 2025 (about -¥80M). Cash flow quality versus earnings is weak: operating cash flow is very small relative to net income in 2025, suggesting earnings are not yet translating into cash on a consistent basis.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.83B2.98B2.43B2.95B2.23B1.29B
Gross Profit1.51B1.65B1.12B1.14B803.44M482.70M
EBITDA-237.72M95.76M8.24M-254.59M-513.85M-726.20M
Net Income-126.03M103.25M-31.41M-305.31M-575.09M-812.57M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets9.25B9.67B9.05B8.36B8.10B6.05B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.72B3.94B6.57B6.38B4.64B4.60B
Total Debt0.000.000.000.0080.00M80.00M
Total Liabilities591.24M685.81M741.03M780.63M844.53M656.43M
Stockholders Equity8.66B8.98B8.31B7.58B7.25B5.38B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow0.00-80.40M-203.88M-301.57M-294.27M-713.15M
Operating Cash Flow0.006.29M-11.45M-140.53M-246.24M-648.88M
Investing Cash Flow0.00-796.00M404.42M-1.09B-2.14B-1.42B
Financing Cash Flow0.00680.11M544.05M482.87M2.38B4.41M

ReproCELL Inc. Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price143.00
Price Trends
50DMA
154.58
Positive
100DMA
167.98
Negative
200DMA
174.44
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
1.85
Positive
RSI
49.34
Neutral
STOCH
31.11
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For JP:4978, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 143 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 162.75, below the 50-day MA of 154.58, and below the 200-day MA of 174.44, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 1.85 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 49.34 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 31.11 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for JP:4978.

ReproCELL Inc. Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
59
Neutral
¥15.07B-54.051.24%-33.41%
57
Neutral
¥7.97B754.651.24%-14.78%-95.53%
57
Neutral
¥21.85B-47.35-5.65%-469.19%
56
Neutral
¥8.54B42.692.99%-52.75%
52
Neutral
¥11.02B-10.03-42.49%-2.37%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
43
Neutral
¥17.61B-9.2111.34%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
JP:4978
ReproCELL Inc.
159.00
-47.00
-22.82%
JP:4599
StemRIM Inc.
281.00
-32.00
-10.22%
JP:4880
CellSource Co., Ltd.
402.00
-441.53
-52.34%
JP:7096
StemCell Institute
833.00
-694.00
-45.45%
JP:7774
Japan Tissue Engineering Co., Ltd.
538.00
85.00
18.76%
JP:7776
CellSeed Inc.
298.00
-81.00
-21.37%
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 16, 2026