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Merus NV (MRUS)
NASDAQ:MRUS
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Merus (MRUS) AI Stock Analysis

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MRUS

Merus

(NASDAQ:MRUS)

Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:
$71.00
▲(5.53% Upside)
Merus's overall stock score is driven by strong technical indicators and positive corporate events, which are offset by weak financial performance and valuation metrics. The stock shows bullish momentum and has strengthened its financial position through a public offering, but ongoing losses and negative cash flows remain significant risks.
Positive Factors
Clinical Data
Initial petosemtamab data in colorectal cancer and one or two Phase 3 readouts in Head and Neck Cancer offer significant potential upside for the stock.
Financial Position
The strong ~$900MM cash position should provide runway.
Regulatory Approval
Petosemtamab's potential approval via accelerated approval pathway in r/m Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma could lead to significant stock upside.
Negative Factors
Clinical Concerns
The initial Phase I dose escalation study with petosemtamab showed no responses, which could be concerning for some investors.
Development Progress
There are no meaningful updates or changes to timelines in the earnings release, suggesting stagnation in progress.
Financial Performance
The 2Q25 EPS at -$2.23 came in significantly higher than consensus of -$1.16 based on higher than expected R&D (-$21.5M) and SG&A (-$3.2M).

Merus (MRUS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Merus Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMerus N.V., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, engages in the discovery and development of bispecific antibody therapeutics in the Netherlands. Its bispecific antibody candidate pipeline includes Zenocutuzumab (MCLA-128), which is in a phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, as well as in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors that harbor Neuregulin 1. The company is also developing MCLA-158, which is in a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of solid tumors; MCLA-145, which is in phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors; MCLA-129, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors; and ONO-4685 that is Phase 1 clinical trial to treat relapsed/refractory T cell lymphoma. In addition, it has collaboration agreement with Betta Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd for the research and development of stage bispecific antibody candidates include MCLA-129; and collaboration with Incyte Corporation for the development of MCLA-145. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
How the Company Makes MoneyMerus generates revenue primarily through partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies, which may involve upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties on future sales of products developed from their technology. By entering into strategic alliances, Merus can share the financial risks associated with drug development while receiving funding to support its research initiatives. Additionally, the company may also generate revenue through grants and government funding aimed at supporting innovative cancer therapies. As Merus advances its clinical programs and moves closer to commercialization, it may also expect to generate revenue from product sales once its therapies receive regulatory approval.

Merus Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Merus shows revenue growth but struggles with profitability and cash flow. The company has a strong equity position but ongoing net losses and negative free cash flow highlight financial challenges.
Income Statement
40
Negative
Merus has shown inconsistent revenue growth, with a noticeable increase to $54.73M in TTM from $36.13M in the previous year. Despite this growth, the company consistently reports net losses, with a TTM net income margin of -506.74% and declining EBIT and EBITDA margins, indicating significant operational challenges and profitability issues.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The company maintains a strong equity position, with a high equity ratio of 81.55% in TTM, reflecting a stable capital structure. The debt-to-equity ratio is low at 0.30, indicating minimal leverage risk. However, ongoing net losses could erode equity over time if trends do not improve.
Cash Flow
45
Neutral
Merus has experienced negative free cash flow growth, with TTM free cash flow at -$239.68M. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, reflecting cash flow challenges. While financing cash flow remains positive, the reliance on external funding could pose sustainability concerns.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue56.23M36.13M43.95M41.59M49.11M29.94M
Gross Profit56.23M36.13M43.95M29.60M-37.16M-27.39M
EBITDA-387.89M-269.60M-154.01M-148.26M-77.75M-60.93M
Net Income-385.52M-215.33M-154.94M-131.19M-66.82M-85.51M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets980.18M785.13M455.49M376.54M456.60M231.22M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments710.22M537.03M355.18M290.23M410.43M207.75M
Total Debt11.00M9.91M12.16M13.47M3.75M3.95M
Total Liabilities138.44M134.77M99.15M129.49M140.40M128.95M
Stockholders Equity841.74M647.93M356.34M247.06M316.20M102.26M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-313.32M-187.50M-146.19M-157.54M-60.50M-81.19M
Operating Cash Flow-313.08M-185.84M-142.21M-149.90M-59.63M-79.90M
Investing Cash Flow-227.59M-220.22M-27.02M2.80M-146.62M-1.49M
Financing Cash Flow358.98M494.01M230.09M58.74M281.95M39.52M

Merus Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price67.28
Price Trends
50DMA
60.72
Positive
100DMA
53.48
Positive
200DMA
48.81
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.48
Positive
RSI
59.09
Neutral
STOCH
72.01
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MRUS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 67.28 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 65.84, above the 50-day MA of 60.72, and above the 200-day MA of 48.81, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.48 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 59.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 72.01 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MRUS.

Merus Risk Analysis

Merus disclosed 82 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Merus 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

Merus Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$4.25B29.8815.61%116.09%35.29%
63
Neutral
$6.05B-37.76%1.23%-20.45%
62
Neutral
$5.06B-48.54%59.77%-92.92%
60
Neutral
$3.85B-31.14%-11.39%
58
Neutral
$3.93B7.1433.08%96.00%
54
Neutral
$3.79B-28.39%32.56%33.33%
51
Neutral
$7.83B-0.18-40.10%2.29%21.46%-2.03%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MRUS
Merus
67.28
16.80
33.28%
PTCT
PTC Therapeutics
49.78
14.25
40.11%
ZLAB
Zai Lab
32.56
13.01
66.55%
KRYS
Krystal Biotech
147.64
-47.58
-24.37%
AKRO
Akero Therapeutics
48.19
21.30
79.21%
RNA
Avidity Biosciences
47.82
5.18
12.15%

Merus Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Merus Announces Public Offering of Common Shares
Positive
Jun 5, 2025

On June 3, 2025, Merus N.V. entered into an underwriting agreement with several underwriters for a public offering of 5,263,158 common shares at $57.00 per share, expected to close around June 5, 2025. The company anticipates net proceeds of approximately $281.7 million, which will be used to fund operations into 2028, advance clinical development, and support corporate purposes, enhancing its financial stability and market position.

The most recent analyst rating on (MRUS) stock is a Buy with a $67.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Merus stock, see the MRUS Stock Forecast page.

Product-Related AnnouncementsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Merus Announces Promising Phase 2 Trial Results
Positive
May 29, 2025

On May 22, 2025, Merus announced interim clinical data from a phase 2 trial of its bispecific antibody, petosemtamab, in combination with pembrolizumab. The trial showed promising results with a 63% overall response rate among 43 evaluable patients, including complete and partial responses across various cancer types and PD-L1 levels. The treatment was generally well tolerated, with no significant overlapping toxicities observed. The company plans to potentially share top line interim results of phase 3 trials in 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (MRUS) stock is a Buy with a $67.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Merus stock, see the MRUS Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Merus Shareholders Approve Key Proposals at AGM
Neutral
May 22, 2025

On May 21, 2025, Merus N.V. held its annual general meeting of shareholders, with 89.20% of the company’s outstanding common shares represented. During the meeting, shareholders approved several proposals, including the adoption of the 2024 annual accounts, the appointment of KPMG as the external auditor for 2025, and the re-appointment of Anand Mehra, M.D. and Maxine Gowen, Ph.D. as non-executive directors. These decisions are expected to influence the company’s governance and operational strategies in the coming years.

The most recent analyst rating on (MRUS) stock is a Buy with a $67.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Merus stock, see the MRUS 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: Aug 14, 2025