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Pacira Pharmaceuticals (PCRX)
NASDAQ:PCRX

Pacira Pharmaceuticals (PCRX) AI Stock Analysis

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PCRX

Pacira Pharmaceuticals

(NASDAQ:PCRX)

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Neutral 67 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
$24.50
▲(11.82% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/27/26
The score is supported primarily by stronger financial footing (much lower leverage) and consistently positive cash generation, alongside generally constructive earnings-call updates on EXPAREL growth and margin improvement. These positives are tempered by a high P/E valuation, mixed longer-term technical trend signals, and ongoing execution/pricing risks highlighted by slower Zilretta growth and GPO discount impacts.
Positive Factors
Very low leverage / strengthened balance sheet
Debt-to-equity near 0.01 materially reduces financial risk and increases strategic optionality. Durable low leverage supports sustained R&D, in-licensing and capital allocation (including buybacks), and provides a buffer through procedure-cycle slowdowns or reimbursement shifts without forcing dilutive financing.
Consistent positive operating and free cash flow
Reliable cash generation underpins self-funded growth and de-risks execution of the 5x30 strategy. Persistent positive free cash flow enables ongoing commercialization investment, supports share repurchases and funds clinical programs or in-licensing without dependence on volatile equity or debt markets.
EXPAREL market position, reimbursement and patent protection
EXPAREL is the core commercial engine with growing volumes, broader payer coverage and long-dated Orange Book patents. That combination creates durable revenue runway, pricing leverage with payers, and a high barrier to generic substitution, supporting multi-year traction in non-opioid perioperative analgesia.
Negative Factors
Revenue concentration in EXPAREL
Heavy dependence on a single marketed product concentrates commercial and regulatory risk: any sustained competitive entry, reimbursement reversal, or material usage decline in surgical settings would disproportionately depress revenue and margins, limiting resilience versus more diversified specialty pharma peers.
Pricing pressure from GPO discounts and sluggish elective procedures
Structural margin risk arises when group purchasing discounts and weak elective procedure volumes depress net selling prices and volumes. Persistent GPO-driven price concessions or a protracted slow elective market could erode realized revenue per unit and compress margins despite unit growth.
Earnings and margin volatility (prior net loss)
Inconsistent earnings and low single-digit net margins reduce predictability of returns and capital allocation. Sporadic losses or margin swings can limit reinvestment capacity, make long-term guidance less reliable, and heighten sensitivity to reimbursement or volume shocks in upcoming quarters.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals (PCRX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPacira BioSciences, Inc. provides non-opioid pain management and regenerative health solutions for healthcare practitioners and their patients in the United States. The company offers EXPAREL, a bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension; ZILRETTA, a triamcinolone acetonide extended-release injectable suspension; and iovera system, a non-opioid handheld cryoanalgesia device used to produce controlled doses of cold temperature only to targeted nerves. It also develops proprietary multivesicular liposome, a drug delivery technology that encapsulates drugs without altering their molecular structure. The company was formerly known as Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to Pacira BioSciences, Inc. in April 2019. Pacira BioSciences, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
How the Company Makes MoneyPacira Pharmaceuticals generates revenue primarily through the sales of its flagship product, EXPAREL, which is marketed to hospitals, surgical centers, and healthcare providers. The company also earns revenue from collaborations and partnerships with other pharmaceutical firms, which may include licensing agreements or co-development arrangements for its pipeline products. Additionally, Pacira may benefit from government reimbursements and healthcare insurance payments for its products, which are crucial for driving sales and expanding market access. The company has strategically focused on building relationships with healthcare professionals and institutions to promote the adoption of non-opioid pain management solutions, contributing to its overall revenue growth.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted strong revenue growth, improved manufacturing efficiencies, and significant pipeline expansion. However, some challenges were noted with Zilretta's slower-than-expected sales growth and discount impacts from new GPO agreements affecting pricing. Elective procedure market growth was also described as sluggish.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth
Year-over-year revenues increased by 6%, driven by strong performance from EXPAREL and iovera. EXPAREL demand increased with year-over-year volumes up approximately 9%, marking the highest quarterly growth in over 3 years.
Manufacturing and Gross Margin
Improved manufacturing efficiencies and gross margins supported an increase in full-year guidance. Non-GAAP gross margins improved to 82% in the third quarter from 78% last year.
Pipeline Expansion
Clinical pipeline expanded with the in-licensing of AMT-143, a novel long-acting formulation of bupivacaine. The company also reported progress in its Phase II study of PCRX-201 for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Market Access and Coverage
The company is ahead of plan to surpass the full-year goal of 100 million covered lives across commercial and government payers. Approximately 60 million commercial lives now have access to EXPAREL via separate reimbursement.
Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns
Significant operating cash flow and a strong balance sheet enable investments in new growth initiatives. The company executed an additional $50 million in share repurchases during the quarter.
Negative Updates
Zilretta Sales
Zilretta sales were slower than anticipated, with only a slight increase to $29.0 million from $28.4 million in 2024.
GPO Discount Impact
Discounting from the third GPO agreement resulted in a higher-than-expected single-digit year-over-year impact on net selling prices.
Elective Procedure Market
Elective procedures were sluggish in the first half of the year, and while there were modest improvements in the third quarter, the growth was not monumental.
Company Guidance
During the Pacira BioSciences third quarter 2025 earnings call, the company provided several key performance metrics and guidance. Year-over-year revenues increased by 6%, driven by a 9% rise in EXPAREL demand, marking the highest quarterly growth in over three years. The company reported EXPAREL sales of $139.9 million, Zilretta sales of $29.0 million, and iovera sales of $6.5 million for the third quarter. Non-GAAP gross margins improved to 82%, compared to 78% the previous year, with the guidance for full-year revenues narrowed to $725 million to $735 million. The company also highlighted its strategic initiatives, such as the in-licensing of AMT-143, a novel long-acting formulation of bupivacaine, and emphasized its robust patent protection with the listing of the 21st EXPAREL patent in the FDA's Orange Book. With significant cash flows, a strong balance sheet, and strategic share repurchases totaling $50 million, Pacira BioSciences is well-positioned to advance its 5x30 growth strategy, aiming for a five-year double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for revenue.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong balance sheet improvement (very low debt-to-equity in 2025) and consistently positive operating/free cash flow support financial resilience. The key limiter is earnings volatility, including a 2024 net loss and only modest profitability in 2025 despite steady revenue growth.
Income Statement
64
Positive
Revenue has grown steadily over time, including strong growth in 2025 (annual revenue up meaningfully versus 2024). Profitability, however, has been volatile: 2024 swung to a sizable net loss after solid profitability in 2021–2023, and 2025 returned to a modest profit with a low net margin (~3.7%). Overall, the top-line trajectory is positive, but inconsistent earnings and margin variability keep the score in the middle range.
Balance Sheet
86
Very Positive
The balance sheet materially strengthened in 2025, with debt dropping to a very low level versus equity (debt-to-equity near 0.01), reducing financial risk and improving flexibility. Equity remains substantial, and returns on equity are positive again in 2025 after turning negative in 2024. The key watch-out is that this improvement follows a period of meaningfully higher leverage in prior years, so investors should confirm the durability of the lower-debt profile.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Cash generation is a clear strength: operating cash flow and free cash flow have been consistently positive across the years provided, with 2025 free cash flow up strongly versus 2024. Cash flow quality is generally solid, with free cash flow tracking well relative to reported earnings in most years. A weakness is that cash flow coverage of reported profits has not been consistently strong (and was weaker in 2024), indicating periodic working-capital or non-cash impacts.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue726.41M700.97M674.98M666.82M541.53M
Gross Profit519.37M530.54M490.31M467.53M401.28M
EBITDA125.34M29.12M154.59M140.38M113.95M
Net Income26.71M-99.56M41.95M15.91M41.98M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.26B1.55B1.57B1.68B2.08B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments158.54M484.62M278.58M288.65M656.41M
Total Debt9.84M638.85M586.04M763.39M1.13B
Total Liabilities571.81M775.17M704.26M906.19M1.34B
Stockholders Equity693.11M778.35M870.13M775.01M730.41M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow136.66M178.75M139.49M115.20M79.85M
Operating Cash Flow151.99M189.39M154.65M145.27M125.72M
Investing Cash Flow99.48M-83.28M77.54M-225.19M-20.79M
Financing Cash Flow-369.63M17.36M-183.03M-401.53M380.69M

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price21.91
Price Trends
50DMA
22.80
Negative
100DMA
23.02
Negative
200DMA
23.90
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.11
Negative
RSI
41.93
Neutral
STOCH
37.42
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PCRX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 21.91 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 21.97, below the 50-day MA of 22.80, and below the 200-day MA of 23.90, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of 0.11 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 41.93 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.42 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PCRX.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Risk Analysis

Pacira Pharmaceuticals disclosed 69 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Pacira Pharmaceuticals 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 0 New Risks

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
67
Neutral
$861.62M135.460.96%3.14%
67
Neutral
$1.69B22.4415.11%48.87%
62
Neutral
$1.32B24.2723.70%26.34%-32.79%
60
Neutral
$953.23M10.3312.90%-0.03%-27.66%
55
Neutral
$3.16B-80.55-3.68%4.54%-130.59%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PCRX
Pacira Pharmaceuticals
21.28
-1.68
-7.32%
SUPN
Supernus Pharmaceuticals
55.09
23.35
73.57%
ANIP
ANI Pharmaceuticals
75.22
16.76
28.67%
AMPH
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals
21.01
-6.51
-23.66%
COLL
Collegium Pharmaceutical
41.60
13.16
46.27%

Pacira Pharmaceuticals Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Pacira BioSciences adds seasoned leader to board
Positive
Jan 28, 2026

On January 27, 2026, Pacira BioSciences expanded its Board of Directors from nine to 10 members and appointed veteran biopharmaceutical executive Samit Hirawat, M.D., as a Class III director and member of the Science and Technology Committee, with the appointment announced publicly on January 28, 2026. The addition of Hirawat, an independent director with more than 25 years of clinical development and leadership experience at Bristol Myers Squibb and Novartis, underscores Pacira’s efforts to strengthen its governance and scientific oversight as it seeks to accelerate growth of its non-opioid pain portfolio and advance its pipeline, including next-generation gene therapies, potentially bolstering its competitive position in the non-opioid pain management market.

The most recent analyst rating on (PCRX) stock is a Buy with a $38.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pacira Pharmaceuticals stock, see the PCRX 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: Feb 27, 2026