Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $81.73M
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 581.13K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): ―
• Beta (1Y): 1.20
• Revenue Growth: N/A
• EPS Growth: 14.19%
• Country: US
• Employees: 171
• Sector: Healthcare
• Sector Strength: 45
• Industry: Biotechnology
• EPS (TTM): -0.43
• Shares Outstanding: 61,449,387
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 902,150
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 581,135
• PEG Ratio: -0.14
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.62
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: -5.00
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: -1.61
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 146.69
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 0.78
• 1Y Price Target: $3.00
• Price Target Upside: 132.56% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Hold
• Number of Analyst Covering: 4
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 42 Neutral
• Price Target: $1.00 ▼(-22.48% Downside)

The score is held down primarily by weak financial performance (large ongoing losses, no recent revenue, and significant cash burn implying runway/financing risk). Technicals add pressure with a clear downtrend and negative momentum indicators. Corporate events are mixed but modestly supportive due to debt settlement, while valuation provides limited support given negative earnings and no dividend data.

Positive Factors

Strategic Partnerships

Strategic partnerships provide Pliant Therapeutics with upfront payments, milestones, and potential royalties, supporting long-term revenue generation and risk-sharing in drug development.

Stockholder Rights Agreement

The stockholder rights agreement safeguards against hostile takeovers, ensuring management can focus on long-term strategic goals without disruption from unsolicited acquisition attempts.

Low Leverage

Low leverage indicates financial stability, reducing the risk of financial distress and providing flexibility for future investments or strategic initiatives.

Negative Factors

Negative Cash Flow

Persistent negative cash flow suggests reliance on external funding, which can strain financial resources and limit the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities.

Workforce Reduction

The workforce reduction reflects operational and financial pressures, potentially affecting morale and productivity, and indicating strategic challenges in maintaining growth.

Zero Revenue

Zero revenue in 2024 highlights significant challenges in commercializing products, impacting the company's ability to generate sustainable cash flows and achieve profitability.

Pliant Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases in the United States. Its lead product candidate is PLN-74809, an oral small-molecule dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins, which is in three Phase 2a trials. The company also develops PLN-1474, a small-molecule selective inhibitor of avß1, which completed Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of liver fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In addition, it is developing two additional preclinical integrin-based programs, which include an oncology program, as well as a program for an allosteric agonistic monoclonal antibody against an undisclosed integrin receptor for treatment of muscular dystrophies, including duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

How the Company Makes Money

Pliant Therapeutics makes money primarily through the development and potential commercialization of its drug candidates. The company generates revenue through strategic partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies. These partnerships may involve upfront payments, milestone payments based on the achievement of specific development goals, and royalties on future product sales. As a clinical-stage company, Pliant's revenue is also influenced by research grants or subsidies, but the majority of its future earnings potential lies in the successful approval and market introduction of its drug candidates.

Pliant Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Pliant Therapeutics is facing significant financial challenges with declining revenues and persistent losses. The balance sheet remains relatively stable with low leverage, but cash flows are under pressure, necessitating external funding to support operations. The company needs to improve revenue generation and cost management to achieve financial stability.

Income Statement

Pliant Therapeutics has shown a declining revenue trend from 2019 to 2024 with revenue dropping to zero in 2024. The company is experiencing persistent net losses, evident from the negative net profit margins, indicating challenges in achieving profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative, reflecting high operating expenses relative to revenue.

Balance Sheet

The company's balance sheet shows a stable equity base despite consistent losses. The debt-to-equity ratio remains low due to minimal debt, signaling low leverage which reduces financial risk. However, the company's stockholders' equity has decreased over time, indicating financial pressure.

Cash Flow

Pliant Therapeutics has negative operating and free cash flows, indicating cash outflows from operations. The free cash flow has worsened over time, showing increasing capital strain. The cash flow from financing activities has been positive, suggesting reliance on external funding.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	0.00	0.00	1.58M	9.69M	7.57M	41.82M
Gross Profit	-895.00K	0.00	1.58M	9.69M	7.57M	41.82M
EBITDA	-168.49M	-205.16M	-158.23M	-118.85M	-95.73M	-40.34M
Net Income	-175.50M	-210.30M	-161.34M	-123.32M	-97.26M	-41.53M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	276.60M	396.95M	512.15M	350.61M	221.22M	295.53M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	241.80M	355.72M	494.25M	331.19M	200.60M	276.89M
Total Debt	59.86M	60.19M	11.37M	15.81M	7.19M	0.00
Total Liabilities	76.29M	92.87M	38.58M	37.27M	22.16M	12.46M
Stockholders Equity	200.31M	304.08M	473.58M	313.34M	199.06M	283.06M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	-158.79M	-159.35M	-117.28M	-96.39M	-77.40M	-38.80M
Operating Cash Flow	-158.21M	-155.50M	-116.36M	-94.63M	-75.44M	-37.27M
Investing Cash Flow	171.65M	140.34M	-127.01M	-150.20M	73.70M	-210.87M
Financing Cash Flow	672.00K	23.12M	274.40M	226.85M	2.53M	213.21M

Pliant Therapeutics Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 1.29
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PLRX, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.29 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1.26, below the 50-day MA of 1.42, and below the 200-day MA of 1.47, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.02 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 62.96 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for PLRX.

Pliant Therapeutics Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
ORMP	63 Neutral	$136.52M	3.38	24.38%	―	―	814.20%
Sector *	51 Neutral	$7.86B	-0.30	-43.30%	2.27%	22.53%	-2.21%
OVID	51 Neutral	$114.65M	-3.23	-60.06%	―	946.61%	-11.30%
QNCX	47 Neutral	$164.26M	-2.47	-247.78%	―	―	2.26%
EQ	44 Neutral	$70.03M	-1.74	-90.24%	―	-90.43%	-382.07%
IFRX	43 Neutral	$68.48M	-0.95	―	―	―	―
PLRX	42 Neutral	$81.73M	-0.45	-64.27%	―	―	14.19%

Pliant Therapeutics Corporate Events

Pliant Therapeutics Appoints Minnie Kuo as COO

On December 10, 2025, Pliant Therapeutics appointed Minnie Kuo as Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Kuo, who joined the company in September 2023 as Chief Development Officer, brings over 20 years of experience in clinical development across multiple therapeutic areas. Her appointment is expected to enhance Pliant’s operational capabilities, given her extensive background in leading clinical and business operations at Vir Biotechnology and other prominent firms.

The most recent analyst rating on (PLRX) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pliant Therapeutics stock, see the PLRX Stock Forecast page.

Pliant Therapeutics Announces Departure of Chief Medical Officer

On December 2, 2025, Pliant Therapeutics announced that its Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Éric Lefebvre, will leave the company effective December 15, 2025. Dr. Lefebvre is expected to continue as a consultant to aid in the transition of his responsibilities, which may impact the company’s operational continuity and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (PLRX) stock is a Hold with a $4.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pliant Therapeutics stock, see the PLRX Stock Forecast page.

Pliant Therapeutics Announces CBO Hans Hull’s Resignation

On October 20, 2025, Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. announced the resignation of Hans Hull as Chief Business Officer, effective immediately. The resignation was not due to any disagreements related to the company’s operations, policies, or practices, suggesting a smooth transition without internal conflict.

The most recent analyst rating on (PLRX) stock is a Hold with a $1.70 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pliant Therapeutics stock, see the PLRX Stock Forecast page.

Pliant Therapeutics Settles Loan with Oxford Finance

On October 14, 2025, Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. completed a voluntary prepayment of $32.4 million, settling all outstanding obligations under its Loan Agreement with Oxford Finance LLC. This move effectively discharged all debts and terminated the Loan Agreement, which initially allowed for term loans up to $150 million, of which $30 million was borrowed.

The most recent analyst rating on (PLRX) stock is a Hold with a $1.70 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Pliant Therapeutics stock, see the PLRX Stock Forecast page.