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Nucana Plc (NCNA)
NASDAQ:NCNA

Nucana (NCNA) AI Stock Analysis

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NCNA

Nucana

(NASDAQ:NCNA)

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Neutral 44 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 44 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 44 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:44Neutral
Price Target:
$1.50
▼(-54.95% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/21/26
The score is weighed down primarily by weak financial performance (no revenue, ongoing losses, and continued cash burn with reliance on financing), alongside a clearly bearish technical setup with the price below all key moving averages and negative MACD. Valuation is difficult to support because the company is loss-making (negative P/E) and has no dividend yield data.
Positive Factors
Extended cash runway
Management’s statement that cash is expected to fund operations into 2029 materially reduces near-term financing pressure, allowing the company to complete ongoing Phase 2 work, seek regulatory clarity, and execute strategic development without immediate dilutive capital raises.
Low financial leverage
Debt under $1M indicates a low-interest-burden capital structure, preserving flexibility to fund R&D or strategic partnerships. Low leverage reduces solvency risk through clinical development, enhancing the ability to negotiate deals and manage cash runway without large fixed obligations.
Clinical progress and regulatory path
Positive Phase 2 activity in PD-1 inhibitor-resistant melanoma and pursuit of FDA guidance represent structural advances: completing enrollment and defining a registrational path can materially de-risk the program, clarify development strategy, and increase the probability of a transition from pre-revenue to commercial-stage.
Negative Factors
Pre-revenue profile
The company generates no product revenue, making it structurally dependent on external funding, partnerships, or milestones. Until regulatory approvals and commercialization occur, there is no self-sustaining cash flow from operations, increasing execution and financing risk over the medium term.
Persistent cash burn
Consistent negative operating and free cash flow requires recurrent financing or partnerships to sustain R&D and trials. Although operating cash outflows improved in 2025, volatility in free cash flow signals ongoing funding dependency that can constrain program choices and lengthen time to self-sufficiency.
Equity volatility and dilution
Large swings in equity and prior financings/warrant restructurings indicate reliance on dilutionary capital raises to fund operations. Recurrent dilution risks compress long-term shareholder value and may raise future financing costs or complicate partner negotiations as the company advances clinical programs.

Nucana (NCNA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Nucana Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionNuCana plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development of products for the treatment of cancer. The company develops its products based on its proprietary ProTide technology. Its lead product candidate includes Acelarin, which is in Phase I clinical trial for patients with advanced solid tumors; Phase Ib for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer; Phase Ib clinical trials for the treatment of patients with biliary tract cancer; Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer; and Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. The company is also developing NUC-3373, a ProTide transformation of the active anti-cancer metabolite of 5-fluorouracil, which is in Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors and in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for patients with advanced colorectal cancer; and NUC-7738, a nucleoside analog that is in Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with advanced solid tumors and hematological tumors. It has a research, collaboration, and license agreement with Cardiff University and University College Cardiff Consultants Ltd. for the design, synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of ProTides; and an assignment, license, and collaboration agreement with Cardiff ProTides Ltd. The company was formerly known as NuCana BioMed Limited and changed its name to NuCana plc in August 2017. NuCana plc was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, the United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyNuCana does not have recurring product sales; as a clinical-stage biotechnology company, its ability to generate revenue is primarily tied to (i) collaboration and licensing arrangements (e.g., upfront payments, research funding, milestone payments tied to development/regulatory/commercial events, and royalties on partner sales if products are commercialized) and (ii) raising capital through equity and other financings to fund operations. When present, reported revenue typically reflects amounts recognized under collaboration or licensing agreements rather than sales of approved medicines. Specific details on current revenue-producing partnerships, milestone structures, royalty terms, or material collaboration income are null.

Nucana Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Pre-revenue profile with no revenue in the provided periods and continued material losses (2025 net loss about -$28.7M). Cash burn remains persistent despite improvement in 2025 operating cash flow (~-$7.0M vs. ~-$19.1M in 2024). Balance sheet leverage is low (debt under $1M), but assets/equity volatility and drawdown indicate ongoing reliance on external funding.
Income Statement
18
Very Negative
The company reports no revenue across all provided annual periods, consistent with an early-stage biotech profile, but it also means there is no visible path to self-funding from operations in the current statements. Losses remain material, with net income still deeply negative in 2025 (-$28.7M) and operating losses sizable, though operating losses have narrowed versus 2021–2022 levels. Overall, profitability remains weak and highly dependent on external funding until revenue generation begins.
Balance Sheet
62
Positive
Leverage is very low (debt remains under $1M across periods), which reduces financial risk. However, the equity base has been volatile and has declined sharply from 2020–2021 levels to 2024, before rebounding in 2025 (equity ~$24.3M), signaling meaningful dilution and/or valuation swings over time. Total assets have also contracted materially since 2020, suggesting the cash/resource runway has been drawn down, even though the company is not burdened by debt.
Cash Flow
28
Negative
Cash burn is persistent, with negative operating and free cash flow every year provided. The burn rate improved notably in 2025 (operating cash flow about -$7.0M vs. -$19.1M in 2024), but free cash flow growth is sharply negative in 2025, indicating year-to-year volatility. Overall, the business still relies on financing to fund operations, despite a recent improvement in annual cash usage.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Mar 2023Mar 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue0.000.000.000.000.00
Gross Profit-267.99K0.000.000.000.00
EBITDA-20.38M-22.48M-31.78M-52.15M-41.88M
Net Income-28.71M-19.00M-27.63M-32.02M-40.53M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets29.78M14.77M27.81M58.25M77.47M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments24.21M6.75M17.23M41.91M60.26M
Total Debt674.81K190.00K396.00K639.00K371.00K
Total Liabilities5.50M8.82M12.92M19.75M11.93M
Stockholders Equity24.28M5.95M14.89M38.50M65.55M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-6.96M-19.41M-26.92M-23.68M-24.89M
Operating Cash Flow-6.96M-19.12M-26.44M-23.16M-23.82M
Investing Cash Flow-188.77K79.00K2.89M120.00K-3.56M
Financing Cash Flow24.46M8.18M-53.00K-161.00K-98.00K

Nucana Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price3.33
Price Trends
50DMA
2.44
Negative
100DMA
3.09
Negative
200DMA
5.81
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.19
Positive
RSI
27.94
Positive
STOCH
6.16
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For NCNA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 3.33 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.00, above the 50-day MA of 2.44, and below the 200-day MA of 5.81, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.19 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 27.94 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 6.16 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for NCNA.

Nucana Risk Analysis

Nucana disclosed 92 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Nucana 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 3 New Risks
1.
We have identified conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, which may hinder our ability to obtain future financing. Q4, 2023
2.
Our internal computer systems, or those of our CROs or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer cybersecurity incidents, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs, and could subject us to liability. Q4, 2023
3.
Unstable market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and stock price. Q4, 2023

Nucana Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
50
Neutral
$7.47M-1.38-60.33%13.30%22.70%
47
Neutral
$8.73M-0.67-87.05%-62.75%23.87%
44
Neutral
$6.87M-253.43%94.52%
40
Underperform
$6.17M-1.04-49.00%47.17%26.84%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
NCNA
Nucana
1.65
-156.35
-98.96%
XBIO
Xenetic Biosciences
3.26
-0.12
-3.55%
IMRN
Immuron
0.70
-1.10
-60.94%
APRE
Aprea Therapeutics
0.76
-1.50
-66.28%

Nucana Corporate Events

NuCana Posts 2025 Results, Highlights NUC-7738 Progress and Cash Runway Into 2029
Mar 19, 2026

NuCana on March 19, 2026 reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results, highlighting clinical progress with its ProTide-based oncology pipeline and a strengthened balance sheet. The company said NUC-7738 showed encouraging safety and clinical activity in late-2025 Phase 2 NuTide:701 data in PD-1 inhibitor-resistant metastatic melanoma, and it aims to complete patient enrollment in the Phase 2 expansion and report final data in 2026 while seeking U.S. FDA regulatory guidance on a potential registrational path in melanoma.

Management also noted it is evaluating additional indications and combinations for NUC-7738 and refining development strategy for NUC-3373, supported by the appointment of a new chief operating officer to drive pipeline execution. NuCana ended 2025 with £24.3 million in cash and cash equivalents after May and July 2025 financings and warrant restructuring, and it expects this cash runway to fund planned operations into 2029 despite a wider 2025 net loss driven by non-cash warrant revaluation, professional fees, and higher share-based payment expenses.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCNA) stock is a Sell with a $2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Nucana stock, see the NCNA Stock Forecast page.

NuCana Names Theresa Bruce Chief Operating Officer to Drive Oncology Pipeline
Jan 6, 2026

On January 6, 2026, NuCana announced the appointment of Theresa Bruce as Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2026, elevating her from her previous role as Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations. Bruce brings over 25 years of oncology R&D and global clinical development experience from leadership positions at Nexus Oncology, Chiltern, Veristat and as a consultant to U.S. biotech companies, and is expected to play a key role in advancing NuCana’s oncology pipeline, including the Phase 1/2 expansion study of NUC-7738 in melanoma, preparations for a potential registration strategy for NUC-7738, and further work to define the mode of action and target indications for NUC-3373, at a time when the company highlights an anticipated cash runway extending into 2029, underscoring both operational continuity and long-term strategic focus for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (NCNA) stock is a Hold with a $3.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Nucana stock, see the NCNA 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: Mar 21, 2026