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Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX)
NASDAQ:PTGX

Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX) AI Stock Analysis

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PTGX

Protagonist Therapeutics

(NASDAQ:PTGX)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$85.00
▲(2.04% Upside)
The score is primarily supported by improving financial performance—especially strong cash flow and a turn to positive profitability—along with a constructive pipeline/partnership update. Offsetting these positives are weak technical momentum (below key moving averages with negative MACD) and a demanding valuation (very high P/E with no dividend yield support).
Positive Factors
Free Cash Flow Generation
Sustained, high free cash flow growth and efficient conversion of income into cash provide durable funding for clinical programs and reduce need for frequent equity raises. This strengthens the company’s ability to finance trials, support partnerships, and pursue milestones over the next 2–6 months.
Low Financial Leverage
Extremely low leverage and a solid balance-sheet position lower refinancing and solvency risk, giving management flexibility to fund development or absorb setbacks. This balance-sheet strength supports strategic optionality across regulatory and clinical catalysts ahead.
Diversified Pipeline & Partnered NDAs
Multiple late-stage assets with submitted NDAs and long-standing partnerships (Takeda, J&J) diversify binary risk and create potential non-dilutive milestone and royalty revenue. This multi-indication pipeline materially improves strategic resilience over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Revenue Volatility
Large negative headline revenue growth indicates lumpy, volatile top-line performance likely driven by milestone timing or product-stage transitions. Such variability reduces predictability of cash receipts and complicates budgeting and long-term commercial planning.
Operating Margin Pressure
Despite net margin improvement, deteriorating EBIT/EBITDA margins point to rising operating costs or scaling inefficiencies. Persistent margin pressure could erode cash flow convertibility and limit reinvestment capacity as the company advances multiple late-stage programs.
Dependence on Partner-Driven Revenue
A business model reliant on partner milestones and royalties concentrates revenue on third-party clinical and commercial execution. This creates binary timing and recognition risks and limits direct control over sustainable, recurring revenue generation as products move toward commercialization.

Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Protagonist Therapeutics Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionProtagonist Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers and develops peptide-based therapeutic drugs to address hematology and blood disorders, and inflammatory and immunomodulatory diseases. It is developing rusfertide (PTG-300), an injectable hepcidin mimetic that is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera and hereditary hemochromatosis, as well as for the treatment of other blood disorders; PN-943, an oral, alpha-4-beta-7 integrin- specific antagonist peptide that is in Phase II clinical trials for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and PN-235, an orally delivered interleukin-23 receptor specific antagonist for the treatment of IBD and non-IBD indications. The company has a license and collaboration agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Newark, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyProtagonist Therapeutics primarily generates revenue through the development and commercialization of its drug candidates, which include licensing agreements, milestone payments, and royalties from partnered products. The company enters into collaborations with larger pharmaceutical firms, which provide upfront payments and funding for clinical trials in exchange for future royalties and profit-sharing rights on sales of successful products. Additionally, PTGX may receive milestone payments as drug candidates progress through various stages of clinical development. These revenue streams are bolstered by the company's focus on innovative therapies that address unmet medical needs, which attract interest from potential partners and investors.

Protagonist Therapeutics Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall financials are improving, led by strong cash-flow execution (Cash Flow Score 78; strong free cash flow growth and healthy cash conversion). Profitability has turned positive (Income Statement Score 72; net margin improved to 22.45% TTM), though EBIT/EBITDA margin deterioration signals some operating pressure. Balance sheet risk is moderate-to-low (Balance Sheet Score 65) with very low leverage.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Protagonist Therapeutics has shown a strong improvement in its income statement metrics over the years. The TTM data indicates a gross profit margin of nearly 100%, reflecting efficient cost management. The net profit margin has improved significantly to 22.45% in the TTM, up from negative margins in previous years, indicating a turnaround in profitability. Revenue growth is modest at 1.8% in the TTM, but the company has demonstrated substantial revenue growth in prior years. However, the EBIT and EBITDA margins have decreased compared to the previous year, suggesting some operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The balance sheet of Protagonist Therapeutics is relatively stable with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.0167 in the TTM, indicating low financial leverage and risk. The return on equity has improved to 6.86% in the TTM, showing better utilization of equity. However, the equity ratio has slightly decreased, suggesting a minor increase in leverage. Overall, the balance sheet reflects a solid financial position with manageable debt levels.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
The cash flow statement shows a robust improvement in free cash flow, with a growth rate of 71.74% in the TTM, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy at 1.46, suggesting efficient conversion of income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is also strong at 0.97, reflecting good cash flow management. These metrics highlight the company's ability to generate and manage cash effectively.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue209.22M434.43M60.00M26.58M27.36M28.63M
Gross Profit209.22M434.43M60.00M26.58M27.36M28.63M
EBITDA27.53M253.67M-90.34M-128.00M-123.07M-63.57M
Net Income45.91M275.19M-78.95M-127.39M-125.55M-66.15M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets701.69M744.73M357.95M247.93M347.69M324.47M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments576.12M418.91M341.62M237.35M326.90M305.81M
Total Debt10.75M10.87M1.14M3.66M5.86M5.96M
Total Liabilities56.25M69.43M21.27M32.32M47.67M44.86M
Stockholders Equity645.44M675.29M336.68M215.61M300.02M279.61M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow63.71M182.80M-70.84M-108.93M-108.97M-72.95M
Operating Cash Flow65.47M184.15M-70.24M-108.14M-107.86M-72.48M
Investing Cash Flow-106.87M-299.48M-39.26M91.47M-15.86M-90.97M
Financing Cash Flow24.06M25.85M170.48M18.84M129.92M247.63M

Protagonist Therapeutics Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price83.30
Price Trends
50DMA
86.07
Negative
100DMA
79.63
Positive
200DMA
65.88
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.60
Negative
RSI
48.95
Neutral
STOCH
76.44
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PTGX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 83.3 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 82.61, below the 50-day MA of 86.07, and above the 200-day MA of 65.88, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.60 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 48.95 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 76.44 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for PTGX.

Protagonist Therapeutics Risk Analysis

Protagonist Therapeutics disclosed 53 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Protagonist Therapeutics 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

Protagonist Therapeutics Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (51)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$3.92B19.3763.17%27.62%202.89%
61
Neutral
$5.21B131.517.80%-35.39%-72.97%
58
Neutral
$5.37B-120.63-15.81%53.66%58.63%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
48
Neutral
$1.90B-8.72-28.97%23.73%30.16%
42
Neutral
$2.27B-12.00-161.90%-56.78%-191.46%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PTGX
Protagonist Therapeutics
83.30
45.55
120.66%
ADMA
ADMA Biologics
16.49
-0.43
-2.54%
ZLAB
Zai Lab
17.00
-10.81
-38.87%
MIRM
Mirum Pharmaceuticals
103.96
52.73
102.93%
AAPG
Ascentage Pharma Group International Unsponsored ADR
24.15
5.35
28.46%

Protagonist Therapeutics Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
Protagonist Therapeutics Highlights Diversified Pipeline and Partnerships
Positive
Jan 12, 2026

On January 12, 2026, Protagonist Therapeutics released an updated corporate presentation outlining an advanced and diversified clinical pipeline anchored by two potential blockbuster assets, icotrokinra and rusfertide, both of which have New Drug Applications submitted between July and December 2025 for plaque psoriasis and polycythemia vera, respectively. The materials highlight multiple Phase 2 and Phase 3 readouts across immunology, hematology and obesity indications, significant milestone and royalty economics from long-standing partnerships with Johnson & Johnson and Takeda, and the prospect of up to $1.2 billion in future sales milestones, positioning the company for substantial non-dilutive revenue streams and reinforcing its financial and strategic footing ahead of key regulatory and clinical catalysts through 2028.

The most recent analyst rating on (PTGX) stock is a Buy with a $86.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Protagonist Therapeutics stock, see the PTGX 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: Jan 12, 2026