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Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TERN)
NASDAQ:TERN

Terns Pharmaceuticals (TERN) AI Stock Analysis

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TERN

Terns Pharmaceuticals

(NASDAQ:TERN)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$39.00
▼(-0.59% Downside)
Overall score is held back primarily by weak operating fundamentals (no revenue, sizable losses, and ongoing cash burn). Offsetting factors include a strong low-debt balance sheet and positive recent corporate developments (promising Phase 1 data and a financing that improves runway). Technicals are broadly neutral and valuation offers limited support due to negative earnings and no dividend.
Positive Factors
Low leverage / strong balance sheet
Terns' near-zero debt and sizeable equity provide enduring financial flexibility typical for early-stage biotech. Low leverage reduces refinancing risk, lets management fund clinical programs or opportunistic deals, and supports multi-year development timelines without immediate debt pressure.
Compelling Phase 1 TERN-701 data
Robust Phase 1 efficacy and tolerability materially raise the clinical probability of success for TERN-701, supporting planned pivotal advancement. Positive, sustained response rates in a refractory population strengthen the drug's competitive profile and justify accelerated development and regulatory planning.
Equity raise materially extends runway
A large underwritten offering that extends funding into 2031 meaningfully reduces near-term financing risk and enables execution of Phase 2/3 plans and initial commercial launch activities. Extended runway allows management to advance multiple clinical milestones without immediate capital pressure.
Negative Factors
No product revenue and persistent losses
The company remains a development-stage enterprise with no recurring product sales and large, persistent operating losses. Absent successful commercialization or partnership revenues, profitability visibility is very low and long-term value depends entirely on clinical and regulatory outcomes.
Sustained cash burn and weak cash generation
Consistent negative operating and free cash flow signals ongoing cash consumption tied to R&D spend. Even with recent financing, sustained burn increases the chance of future dilution if development timelines slip or additional studies are required, constraining strategic optionality.
Concentrated pipeline / single-asset risk
Terns' value is concentrated in its clinical pipeline, particularly TERN-701. This concentration means binary clinical outcomes or regulatory setbacks could materially impair the company's prospects; diversification and product revenues are limited, raising execution and program-specific risk.

Terns Pharmaceuticals (TERN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Terns Pharmaceuticals Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionTerns Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops small-molecule single-agent and combination therapy candidates for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and obesity. The company develops TERN-101, a liver-distributed and non-bile acid farnesoid X receptor agonist, which is in Phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of NASH; and TERN-201, a vascular adhesion protein-1 inhibitor that is in Phase Ib clinical trial for the treatment of NASH. It also develops TERN-501, a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist with enhanced liver distribution and metabolic stability that is in Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of NASH; and TERN-601, a small-molecule Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 receptor agonist program that is intended to orally be administered for NASH and metabolic diseases, such as obesity. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Foster City, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyTerns Pharmaceuticals primarily generates revenue through the development and commercialization of its proprietary drug candidates. The company invests in research and development to advance its pipeline of small-molecule therapeutics through various stages of clinical trials. Revenue is expected from the successful approval and commercialization of these drug candidates, either through direct sales or through licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Terns may enter into strategic partnerships and collaborations that provide milestone payments and royalties based on the successful progress and commercialization of its drug candidates. These partnerships can significantly contribute to the company's earnings by leveraging external resources and expertise to accelerate the development of its therapies.

Terns Pharmaceuticals Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial profile is mixed: the balance sheet is strong with very low debt and sizable equity (supports flexibility), but the company has no revenue, a large net loss (TTM ~-$94.4M), and sustained cash burn (TTM FCF ~-$77.7M), which increases financing/runway risk despite limited leverage.
Income Statement
18
Very Negative
TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) results show no revenue and a large net loss of about $94.4M, with EBIT around -$108.5M—indicating the business remains in a heavy investment/burn phase. Losses have been broadly persistent across 2020–2024, and profitability has not yet inflected, which meaningfully weakens earnings quality and visibility. The key positive is that losses are not exploding year-over-year, but the lack of recurring revenue keeps the income statement profile high-risk.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
The balance sheet is a relative strength: TTM equity is about $284.1M against total debt of roughly $1.0M (very low leverage), supporting financial flexibility typical of earlier-stage biotech. Total assets are about $301.7M, and debt-to-equity is near zero, reducing refinancing risk. The primary weakness is ongoing negative returns on equity (TTM return on equity around -27%), and equity has come down from 2024 levels, consistent with continued operating losses.
Cash Flow
30
Negative
Cash generation remains weak: TTM operating cash flow and free cash flow are both about -$77.7M, reflecting sustained cash burn. Cash burn has risen versus 2024 (operating cash flow roughly -$70.0M), though the company’s cash flow has historically tracked net losses closely (free cash flow to net income ~1x), suggesting limited non-cash distortions. The main risk is duration of the cash runway given persistent negative free cash flow.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue0.000.000.000.001.00M0.00
Gross Profit-108.00K0.000.000.001.00M0.00
EBITDA-101.49M-100.97M-101.68M-61.00M-49.35M-36.63M
Net Income-94.44M-88.85M-90.21M-60.34M-50.16M-29.35M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets301.65M363.93M268.52M287.03M168.07M92.29M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments295.63M358.16M263.44M283.11M165.98M74.85M
Total Debt1.03M1.35M603.00K1.21M0.0012.88M
Total Liabilities17.59M18.06M13.15M10.08M7.77M23.70M
Stockholders Equity284.07M345.87M255.37M276.94M160.30M68.59M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-77.68M-70.06M-67.44M-49.38M-42.17M-30.39M
Operating Cash Flow-77.68M-70.02M-67.39M-49.11M-41.83M-29.81M
Investing Cash Flow-42.39M-12.41M-37.99M-22.27M-119.70M6.69M
Financing Cash Flow702.00K164.00M41.95M167.09M134.39M85.52M

Terns Pharmaceuticals Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price39.23
Price Trends
50DMA
38.71
Positive
100DMA
27.53
Positive
200DMA
16.38
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.79
Negative
RSI
58.28
Neutral
STOCH
70.98
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TERN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 39.23 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 36.97, above the 50-day MA of 38.71, and above the 200-day MA of 16.38, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.79 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.28 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 70.98 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TERN.

Terns Pharmaceuticals Risk Analysis

Terns Pharmaceuticals disclosed 80 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Terns Pharmaceuticals 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

Terns 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
62
Neutral
$492.64M10.7310.43%37798.31%
57
Neutral
$1.57B-16.67-34.75%-17.01%
56
Neutral
$1.76B-13.14-59.22%17.23%
52
Neutral
$4.18B-29.12%12.45%
51
Neutral
$7.86B-0.30-43.30%2.27%22.53%-2.21%
51
Neutral
$1.59B-5.19-49.63%48.32%-1.91%
49
Neutral
$1.52B-19.67-308.02%196.42%53.92%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TERN
Terns Pharmaceuticals
39.23
35.50
951.74%
ANAB
AnaptysBio
54.19
36.99
215.06%
KROS
Keros Therapeutics
16.20
5.41
50.14%
NRIX
Nurix Therapeutics
15.78
-1.08
-6.41%
OLMA
Olema Pharmaceuticals
24.08
19.26
399.59%
TYRA
Tyra Bioscience
31.58
18.76
146.33%

Terns Pharmaceuticals Corporate Events

Business Operations and Strategy
Terns Pharmaceuticals Expands Global Rights to TERN-701
Positive
Jan 22, 2026

On January 16, 2026, Terns Pharmaceuticals amended its existing Exclusive Option and License Agreement with Hansoh (Shanghai) Healthtech Co., Ltd., under which Hansoh already held exclusive rights to develop and commercialize TERN-701 for oncology indications in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. The amendment grants Terns an exclusive, royalty-bearing, sublicensable and perpetual license, outside the Hansoh Territory, to use certain patents and patent applications invented by Hansoh and its affiliate in connection with TERN-701, replacing a previous non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, royalty-free license held by a Terns subsidiary; in return, Terns will pay Hansoh a $1 million upfront fee and low single-digit tiered royalties on net sales of TERN-701 products covered by those patents, strengthening Terns’ global intellectual property position and commercial flexibility for TERN-701 beyond Greater China.

The most recent analyst rating on (TERN) stock is a Buy with a $41.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Terns Pharmaceuticals stock, see the TERN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Terns Pharmaceuticals Announces Major Stock Offering
Positive
Dec 11, 2025

On December 9, 2025, Terns Pharmaceuticals announced an underwritten public offering of 16,250,000 shares of common stock at $40.00 per share, with an option for underwriters to purchase an additional 2,437,500 shares. The offering, expected to close on December 11, 2025, aims to raise approximately $705.8 million in net proceeds, which will be used to fund research, clinical trials, and potential commercial launch preparations for TERN-701, among other corporate purposes. This move is expected to bolster Terns’ financial position, enabling it to fund operations into 2031, and strengthen its market positioning in the oncology sector.

The most recent analyst rating on (TERN) stock is a Buy with a $57.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Terns Pharmaceuticals stock, see the TERN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyProduct-Related Announcements
Terns Pharmaceuticals Unveils Promising Phase 1 Trial Data
Positive
Dec 8, 2025

On December 8, 2025, Terns Pharmaceuticals announced updated data from the Phase 1 CARDINAL trial of TERN-701, presented at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. The trial, which involves patients with previously treated chronic myeloid leukemia, showed promising results with a 74% major molecular response (MMR) rate by 24 weeks across all dose cohorts and a 75% MMR rate at doses above 320 mg. The trial’s safety profile was encouraging, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed, supporting the selection of 320 mg and 500 mg as recommended doses for phase 2. These findings reinforce TERN-701’s potential as a best-in-disease therapy, with plans to advance into pivotal Phase 3 trials in 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (TERN) stock is a Buy with a $35.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Terns Pharmaceuticals stock, see the TERN 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 23, 2026