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Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX)
NASDAQ:PCVX

Vaxcyte (PCVX) AI Stock Analysis

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PCVX

Vaxcyte

(NASDAQ:PCVX)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$53.00
▼(-1.06% Downside)
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance (no revenue, widening losses, and heavy cash burn), partially offset by a strong low-debt balance sheet. Technicals are moderately constructive with price above key moving averages and neutral momentum, while valuation is constrained by ongoing losses. Corporate events add a small positive tilt through manufacturing readiness, tempered by higher executive severance obligations.
Positive Factors
Low leverage / strong balance sheet
Very low debt and substantial stockholders' equity provide durable financial optionality and reduce refinancing risk. This capital structure supports continued R&D and clinical programs, giving management time to advance vaccines before relying on operational revenue to fund growth.
Long-term manufacturing agreement
A 15-year manufacturing services deal materially de-risks commercial scale-up and supply-chain execution. Durable contract manufacturing access improves manufacturability, shortens time-to-market if trials succeed, and supports predictable production capacity and cost modeling over years.
Focused pneumococcal vaccine pipeline
Concentrated pipeline targeting pneumococcal disease with carrier-sparing conjugate designs addresses a large, structural unmet market. Broader serotype coverage and improved manufacturability can create sustainable competitive advantages and durable revenue potential if clinical and regulatory milestones are achieved.
Negative Factors
No revenue and widening losses
Absence of product revenue and sharply widening net losses force continued dependence on financing and heighten execution risk. Sustained losses erode returns and shareholder equity, making long-term viability contingent on successful clinical outcomes and commercialization rather than operating cash flow.
Large and rising cash burn
Deep negative operating and free cash flow signal heavy ongoing investment and rapid depletion of cash resources. This structural burn rate increases likelihood and frequency of capital raises, constrains strategic flexibility, and shortens runway absent milestone-driven financing or revenue generation.
Reliance on equity financing
Large, repeated equity offerings indicate the company must routinely access capital markets to fund operations. Persistent reliance on dilution undermines long-term shareholder value and reflects weak internal cash generation until products reach market, making outcomes highly binary.

Vaxcyte (PCVX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Vaxcyte Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionVaxcyte, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology vaccine company, develops novel protein vaccines to prevent or treat bacterial infectious diseases. Its lead vaccine candidate is VAX-24, a 24-valent investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials to treat invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. The company also develops VAX-XP to protect against emerging strains and address antibiotic resistance; VAX-A1, a conjugate vaccine candidate designed to treat Group A Strep; and VAX-PG, a novel protein vaccine candidate targeting keystone pathogen responsible for periodontitis. The company was formerly known as SutroVax, Inc. and changed its name to Vaxcyte, Inc. in May 2020. Vaxcyte, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in San Carlos, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyVaxcyte makes money primarily through the development and commercialization of its vaccine candidates. The company's revenue model involves research and development (R&D) investments to advance its vaccine pipeline through clinical trials, regulatory approval, and ultimately, market launch. Key revenue streams include potential product sales, milestone payments, and royalties from partnerships or licensing agreements with other pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Vaxcyte may benefit from government grants or funding to support vaccine development. Strategic collaborations with industry partners can also contribute to its earnings by sharing development costs and expanding market reach upon commercialization.

Vaxcyte Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 25, 2025
(Q4-2024)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 02, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlighted Vaxcyte's strong financial position, significant clinical and manufacturing progress, and proactive regulatory engagement. However, challenges include increased expenses, potential regulatory uncertainties, and the need to meet non-inferiority criteria in clinical studies. Vaxcyte remains optimistic about its pipeline and future growth.
Q4-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Position
Vaxcyte ended 2024 with $3.13 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, bolstered by $2.2 billion from successful equity offerings.
VAX-31 Clinical Success
VAX-31 showed strong Phase 1/2 results in adults, leading to its advancement to Phase 3, with Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted by the FDA.
Manufacturing Expansion
Vaxcyte is building a dedicated manufacturing suite with Lonza, on track for completion by early next year, supporting future global supply.
Progress in Early-Stage Vaccine Candidates
Vaxcyte continues to advance vaccine candidates against AMR threats, including VAX-A1 for Group A Strep.
Regulatory Engagement
Vaxcyte established a public affairs function, enhancing engagement with policymakers to support vaccine innovation.
Negative Updates
Increased Expenses
R&D and G&A expenses increased in 2024 due to development, manufacturing, and personnel costs, with further increases expected in 2025.
Regulatory Uncertainty
Potential changes in vaccine policies under the new administration could impact future vaccine schedules and recommendations.
Challenges in Achieving Non-Inferiority
Concerns about meeting non-inferiority criteria in upcoming Phase 2 and 3 studies, especially given historical precedents of serotype misses.
Company Guidance
During the Vaxcyte fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings call, key guidance was provided on the company's financial and operational outlook. As of December 31, 2024, Vaxcyte reported a strong financial position with $3.13 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and investments. The company anticipates significant increases in R&D and G&A expenses in 2025, primarily driven by manufacturing investments for the VAX-31 adult Phase 3 clinical program and the growth in personnel. Vaxcyte's dedicated manufacturing suite at Lonza is on track to be completed by early 2025, with $127.8 million in additional capital expenditures in 2024, bringing the total project cost to $214.3 million. Operationally, the company is advancing its PCV franchise, with the VAX-31 adult Phase 3 pivotal study expected to initiate by mid-2025 and top-line data anticipated in 2026. Additionally, Vaxcyte is progressing its VAX-24 and VAX-31 infant programs, with the first key dataset for VAX-31 expected by mid-2026. These efforts are supported by a robust pipeline aimed at addressing bacterial threats and antimicrobial resistance, ensuring Vaxcyte is well-prepared for sustainable growth and future vaccine launches.

Vaxcyte Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall financials are pressured by no revenue, accelerating net losses (TTM ~-$657M) and rising cash burn (TTM operating cash flow ~-$542M; TTM free cash flow ~-$592M). The key offset is a strong, low-leverage balance sheet (debt-to-equity ~0.03) with sizable equity, though equity is trending down and returns remain deeply negative.
Income Statement
12
Very Negative
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) and annual results show no revenue and persistently large losses, with net income declining from about -$89M (2020) to -$464M (2024) and -$657M in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Operating losses have also widened materially (EBIT about -$90M in 2020 vs. -$570M in 2024 and -$812M TTM), indicating rising spend ahead of commercialization. Strength is consistency of investment in the pipeline, but the core weakness is the absence of revenue and accelerating losses, which keeps profitability and operating leverage highly challenged.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet is a relative strength: leverage is very low (debt-to-equity ~0.02–0.03; 0.029 in TTM), with total debt of ~$84M against stockholders’ equity of ~$2.89B in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). However, equity has fallen from ~$3.31B (2024) to ~$2.89B (TTM), and returns on equity remain meaningfully negative (about -0.21 TTM), reflecting ongoing losses and dilution/burn risk over time. Overall, the company has substantial capitalization and limited debt burden, but weakening equity and negative returns are notable drawbacks.
Cash Flow
18
Very Negative
Cash generation is weak and worsening: operating cash flow is deeply negative and has expanded from about -$46.6M (2020) to -$452.6M (2024) and -$542.1M in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Free cash flow is also significantly negative (about -$475.1M in 2024 and -$591.5M TTM). A positive is that free cash flow tracks net losses reasonably closely (free cash flow is roughly in line with net income in recent periods), suggesting limited non-cash distortions, but the primary risk is the large and rising cash burn that increases future funding needs.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue0.000.000.000.000.000.00
Gross Profit-4.99M0.000.000.000.00-1.41M
EBITDA-599.85M-448.08M-392.10M-214.03M-96.61M-87.81M
Net Income-657.20M-463.93M-402.27M-223.49M-100.08M-89.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.17B3.51B1.41B1.01B324.34M392.83M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.71B1.75B1.08B931.38M245.97M386.20M
Total Debt84.44M71.11M29.22M17.94M16.78M0.00
Total Liabilities278.72M205.50M167.45M52.56M40.32M46.98M
Stockholders Equity2.89B3.31B1.24B953.61M284.02M345.84M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-591.45M-475.05M-364.67M-176.44M-127.95M-47.78M
Operating Cash Flow-542.15M-452.63M-296.79M-170.60M-121.39M-46.63M
Investing Cash Flow-234.94M-2.01B-773.31M74.58M-212.31M-1.10M
Financing Cash Flow4.51M2.45B639.81M861.55M17.80M374.87M

Vaxcyte Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price53.57
Price Trends
50DMA
47.51
Positive
100DMA
43.66
Positive
200DMA
38.41
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.97
Negative
RSI
63.20
Neutral
STOCH
69.14
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PCVX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 53.57 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 48.98, above the 50-day MA of 47.51, and above the 200-day MA of 38.41, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.97 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.20 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.14 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for PCVX.

Vaxcyte Risk Analysis

Vaxcyte disclosed 71 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Vaxcyte 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

Vaxcyte Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$8.10B41.8819.66%54.51%275.94%
70
Outperform
$6.06B8.8397.54%
52
Neutral
$7.01B-20.83%-5.21%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
48
Neutral
$1.88B-8.52-28.96%23.73%30.16%
40
Underperform
$3.95B-17.43-47.18%-76.96%-425.41%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PCVX
Vaxcyte
53.57
-31.24
-36.84%
PTCT
PTC Therapeutics
75.53
25.52
51.03%
ZLAB
Zai Lab
16.60
-10.78
-39.37%
KRYS
Krystal Biotech
279.24
120.21
75.59%
ACLX
Arcellx Inc
68.31
3.55
5.48%

Vaxcyte Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Vaxcyte Enhances Executive Severance to Align With Market
Positive
Dec 19, 2025

On December 18, 2025, Vaxcyte amended existing executive change in control and severance agreements for its top executives, following approval by the board’s compensation committee as part of its annual compensation review and planning process. Effective December 31, 2025, the company will increase base salary, bonus and COBRA coverage severance multipliers for CEO Grant Pickering and for President and CFO Andrew Guggenhime, COO Jim Wassil and CTO Harpreet Dhaliwal, both for standard qualifying terminations and for change-in-control-related terminations, in order to bring executive severance levels more in line with market peers and potentially strengthen leadership retention and alignment with shareholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (PCVX) stock is a Buy with a $85.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Vaxcyte stock, see the PCVX 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: Dec 30, 2025