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Lisata Therapeutics (LSTA)
NASDAQ:LSTA

Lisata Therapeutics (LSTA) AI Stock Analysis

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LSTA

Lisata Therapeutics

(NASDAQ:LSTA)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$4.00
▲(105.13% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance (minimal revenue, large losses, and significant cash burn). Offsetting factors include strong recent technical trend (though overbought), constructive earnings-call progress on expense reductions and runway, and mixed but impactful corporate developments (buyout offer positive, China deal termination negative).
Positive Factors
Debt-free balance sheet
Zero reported debt materially reduces fixed financing costs and bankruptcy risk, giving management flexibility to prioritize R&D, licensing or selective M&A. Over multiple quarters this lowers cash outflows for interest, supporting longer runway vs. indebted peers while clinical programs mature.
Strategic partnerships & licensing
A global license with Catalent and alliances like GATC Health create durable commercialization and development pathways without Lisata funding all downstream trials. Such partnerships validate the platform, broaden addressable markets, and enable non-dilutive milestones/licensing revenues over the medium term.
Clinical proof-of-concept signals
Repeated positive trial signals (ASCEND preliminary trends and investigator-initiated CENDIFOX results) strengthen the biological rationale and de-risk development. Durable efficacy/safety evidence enhances partner interest, supports regulatory planning and increases chance of successful registration or strategic exits over 2–6 months.
Negative Factors
Low revenue & large losses
Revenue scale is insufficient to support operating cost base, producing structurally negative margins and persistent operating losses. Without material revenue diversification or margin improvement, the company cannot self-fund registrational studies and remains dependent on external financing or partnerships.
Material cash burn
Sustained negative OCF and FCF mean the company will need additional capital before commercialization. This constrains ability to initiate large Phase III programs, raises dilution or partnership dependency risk, and forces prioritization of programs which can slow broader pipeline progress.
Loss of China collaboration
Termination of the Qilu Greater China license removes a potentially large non-dilutive funding and regional commercialization path. Recovering those economics will require new licensing, re-negotiation or local buildout, delaying market access and increasing near-term funding pressure and execution complexity.

Lisata Therapeutics (LSTA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Lisata Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLisata Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing and commercializing cellular therapies to reverse disease and/or promote the regeneration of damaged tissue. Its product candidates include HONEDRA, a recipient of SAKIGAKE designation that is in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of critical limb ischemia; XOWNA that is in Phase IIb clinical trial for the treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction; and CLBS201, a CD34+ cell therapy for the treatment of pre-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. The company was formerly known as NeoStem, Inc. and changed its name to Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. in June 2015. The company was formerly known as Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. and changed its name to Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. on September 15, 2022. Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
How the Company Makes MoneyLisata Therapeutics generates revenue primarily through the development and commercialization of its drug candidates. The company may earn money via partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies, licensing agreements, and potential sales of its approved therapies. Additionally, Lisata could receive milestone payments and royalties based on the successful development and commercialization of its products. However, as a clinical-stage company, Lisata's revenue generation is typically dependent on the progression of its drug candidates through clinical trials and eventual regulatory approvals.

Lisata Therapeutics Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Lisata Therapeutics has made significant progress in its clinical programs and strategic partnerships, reflecting strong operational management and promising trial results. However, the need for additional capital for Phase III trials poses a significant challenge. The market's lack of response to positive developments highlights ongoing investor skepticism or broader market conditions.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strategic Alliance with GATC Health
Lisata entered into a strategic alliance with GATC Health to use their advanced AI technology for drug discovery, identifying several development candidates for clinical development in 2026.
Nonexclusive License Agreement with Catalent
Executed a global license agreement with Catalent, granting them access to certepetide for use in their SMARTag ADC technology platform, enhancing tumor targeting and efficacy.
Phase IIb ASCEND Trial Positive Results
Presented positive preliminary data from both Cohorts A and B, showing positive trends in survival rates without increased adverse events, supporting further development of certepetide.
Operating Expense Reduction
Operating expenses decreased by 17.3% year-over-year, reflecting successful cost management strategies.
Cash Runway into 2027
The company has cash and cash equivalents of approximately $19 million, supporting operations into the first quarter of 2027.
Negative Updates
Need for Additional Capital
The company acknowledged the need to raise substantial funds or secure partnerships to support a Phase III trial, highlighting the significant financial challenge ahead.
Limited Stock Market Response
Despite positive data and prudent capital management, the company's stock price has not reflected these achievements, attributed to macroeconomic factors and limited trading volume.
Company Guidance
During the Lisata Therapeutics Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Business Update Conference Call, the company provided guidance on several key metrics. They reported a decrease in operating expenses to $4.4 million for the third quarter of 2025, down from $5.3 million in the same period the previous year, marking a 17.3% reduction. Research and development expenses also declined by 22.9% to $2 million. The company reported a net loss of $4.2 million, compared to $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2024. Lisata highlighted their cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $19 million as of September 30, 2025, with projections to support operations into the first quarter of 2027. Additionally, they discussed their strategic alliance with GATC Health and a nonexclusive global license agreement with Catalent, indicating a promising period ahead with several anticipated milestones.

Lisata Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials remain weak overall: revenue is very small (~$1.07M TTM) with large operating losses (EBIT about -$20.1M) and deeply negative margins. The balance sheet benefits from zero debt, but equity/assets have declined and ROE is strongly negative (~-78%). Cash burn is material (operating cash flow about -$17.2M; FCF about -$17.3M), implying continued reliance on funding despite some improvement versus 2024.
Income Statement
18
Very Negative
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue remains very small (~$1.07M) with no growth, which limits operating leverage. While gross profit is high (near full revenue), operating costs are far above the revenue base, driving large operating losses (EBIT of about -$20.1M) and a deeply negative net margin. Losses have improved versus 2022, but profitability is still structurally weak given the current revenue scale.
Balance Sheet
62
Positive
Leverage is a clear strength: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) total debt is $0 and historically debt-to-equity has been very low, reducing balance-sheet risk. However, equity and total assets have declined materially over time (from 2021–2022 levels to TTM), reflecting ongoing losses and balance-sheet burn. Returns to shareholders are strongly negative (TTM return on equity around -78%), highlighting that the capital base is not currently generating profits.
Cash Flow
28
Negative
Cash generation is a key weakness: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow is about -$17.2M and free cash flow is about -$17.3M, indicating continued cash burn to fund operations. Cash burn has improved versus 2024 (less negative), but the business still relies on external funding until revenues scale or expenses reset meaningfully. Free cash flow roughly tracks net losses, suggesting limited non-cash offsets.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.07M1.00M0.000.000.000.00
Gross Profit1.07M1.00M0.000.000.00-63.00K
EBITDA-19.53M-22.23M-25.52M-57.53M-29.00M-19.08M
Net Income-18.24M-19.98M-20.84M-54.23M-27.47M-8.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets21.76M35.00M54.69M73.03M97.01M36.00M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments19.00M31.25M50.53M69.23M94.97M34.57M
Total Debt0.00137.00K168.00K485.00K714.00K624.00K
Total Liabilities4.64M5.68M6.80M6.71M5.01M3.76M
Stockholders Equity17.37M29.57M48.15M66.58M92.25M32.50M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-17.28M-19.36M-20.03M-21.45M-22.30M-8.84M
Operating Cash Flow-17.23M-19.36M-20.03M-21.17M-22.25M-8.82M
Investing Cash Flow16.48M13.23M10.10M28.91M-54.90M-7.28M
Financing Cash Flow298.00K-206.00K385.00K-224.00K85.28M18.58M

Lisata Therapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1.95
Price Trends
50DMA
2.49
Positive
100DMA
2.44
Positive
200DMA
2.48
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.69
Negative
RSI
86.67
Negative
STOCH
72.92
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LSTA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1.95 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.24, below the 50-day MA of 2.49, and below the 200-day MA of 2.48, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.69 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 86.67 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.92 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for LSTA.

Lisata Therapeutics Risk Analysis

Lisata Therapeutics disclosed 79 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lisata 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

Lisata 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
52
Neutral
$40.22M-2.15-71.45%15.32%
52
Neutral
$24.02M-0.69-380.13%54.41%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
48
Neutral
$15.77M-0.21-54.40%18.73%
43
Neutral
$7.52M>-0.01-256.30%99.02%
41
Neutral
$5.95M-0.07-270.74%72.88%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LSTA
Lisata Therapeutics
4.58
1.87
68.75%
APVO
Aptevo Therapeutics
6.76
-1,483.64
-99.55%
CTXR
Citius Pharmaceuticals
0.78
-1.81
-69.77%
PCSA
Processa Pharmaceuticals
2.44
-13.36
-84.56%
APLM
Apollomics
19.54
10.55
117.35%

Lisata Therapeutics Corporate Events

Business Operations and Strategy
Lisata Therapeutics ends Qilu certepetide collaboration deal
Negative
Jan 27, 2026

On January 23, 2026, Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. and Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. mutually agreed to terminate their exclusive license and collaboration agreement, originally signed in February 2021 and subsequently amended, which had granted Qilu rights to research, develop and commercialize certepetide in Greater China. The termination, effective the same day, eliminates Lisata’s potential to receive up to $200 million in development and commercial milestone payments and 10%–15% royalties on sales in that territory, although both parties remain bound by obligations and certain provisions that accrued or were designated to survive prior to the termination, signaling a strategic shift in Lisata’s regional commercialization plans for certepetide.

The most recent analyst rating on (LSTA) stock is a Hold with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lisata Therapeutics stock, see the LSTA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Lisata Therapeutics Agrees to All-Cash Acquisition by Kuva
Positive
Jan 21, 2026

On January 20–21, 2026, Lisata Therapeutics announced it had entered into a binding term sheet with privately held Kuva Labs for a negotiated acquisition via an all‑cash tender offer of $4.00 per share, to be followed by a short‑form merger, with Lisata stockholders also eligible for two non‑tradeable contingent value rights worth up to an additional $2.00 per share upon achieving specified certepetide‑related milestones. The offer, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards and expected to be formalized in a definitive purchase agreement before February 27, 2026, represents roughly an 85% premium to Lisata’s most recent closing price, or about 180% including the CVRs, and is structured with exclusivity, standstill and break‑up fee provisions that protect both parties while allowing Lisata to consider superior competing bids; the deal underscores the strategic value Kuva sees in Lisata’s certepetide‑based oncology platform and could deliver a substantial liquidity event for shareholders if the tender offer and subsequent merger close as planned.

The most recent analyst rating on (LSTA) stock is a Hold with a $2.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lisata Therapeutics stock, see the LSTA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Lisata Therapeutics Reports Q3 Results and Strategic Alliances
Positive
Nov 6, 2025

On November 6, 2025, Lisata Therapeutics reported its third-quarter financial results, highlighting positive data from clinical studies involving certepetide, a promising investigational drug for solid tumors. The company announced strategic alliances and a global license agreement, extending its cash runway into early 2027, and anticipates further data releases to bolster its market position.

The most recent analyst rating on (LSTA) stock is a Buy with a $15.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lisata Therapeutics stock, see the LSTA 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 28, 2026