Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARDX) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a moderately bullish view: Ardelyx has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating from 12 analysts, with an average 12-month price target of $13.90 versus a recent share price of $3.62.
• Legal and disclosure risks have increased: Multiple law firms are soliciting investors for a securities class action alleging Ardelyx failed to disclose payer-access barriers affecting IBSRELA and XPHOZAH; the allegations reportedly followed an approximately 18% one-day stock decline.
• Operating trends are mixed: Quarterly revenue rose 34.3% year over year to $120.88 million, but earnings missed estimates, while insiders sold shares recently even as institutional ownership reached 58.92%.

Shares of Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARDX - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twelve ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $13.90.

ARDX has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Zacks Research cut shares of Ardelyx from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of Ardelyx from $13.00 to $10.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on Ardelyx from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 17th. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $13.00 target price on shares of Ardelyx in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Ardelyx from $14.00 to $11.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 10th.

Key Headlines Impacting Ardelyx

Here are the key news stories impacting Ardelyx this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New IBSRELA advertising campaign: Ardelyx has launched its first television campaign for IBSRELA after applying lessons from FDA untitled letters. The company’s focus on compliant promotional messaging could improve awareness and support demand for the drug. Ardelyx puts lessons from FDA’s Untitled Letters into practice in first Ibsrela TV campaign
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple law firms publicize the same shareholder lawsuit: Several firms, including Rosen Law Firm, Robbins LLP, Faruqi & Faruqi, Schall Brown & Schwartz, Bronstein Gewirtz & Grossman, and others, are seeking investors to serve as lead plaintiff in a securities class action. The deadline to seek lead-plaintiff status is November 16, 2026. These announcements largely repeat the same allegations rather than representing separate confirmed lawsuits. Rosen Law Firm shareholder notice Robbins LLP shareholder notice
• Negative Sentiment: Alleged disclosure failures create legal and reputational risk: The complaint alleges Ardelyx maintained long-term revenue expectations for IBSRELA and XPHOZAH while payer-access barriers were developing, followed by an approximately 18% single-session decline in ARDX shares. If the claims advance, Ardelyx could face litigation costs, damages, and increased investor scrutiny. ARDX shareholder alert

Insider Activity at Ardelyx

In other Ardelyx news, insider Mike Kelliher sold 7,758 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.86, for a total value of $29,945.88. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 349,660 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,349,687.60. This trade represents a 2.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider James Brady sold 15,136 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.86, for a total value of $58,424.96. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 245,930 shares in the company, valued at approximately $949,289.80. The trade was a 5.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 126,059 shares of company stock worth $486,588 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 5.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ardelyx

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Ardelyx during the 2nd quarter valued at $119,874,000. Jupiter Topco LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ardelyx in the 2nd quarter worth $27,043,000. AIGH Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Ardelyx during the 2nd quarter worth $16,320,000. Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in Ardelyx during the 2nd quarter worth $11,034,000. Finally, Rubric Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Ardelyx during the 1st quarter valued at about $11,147,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.92% of the company's stock.

Ardelyx Trading Up 3.4%

Shares of NASDAQ:ARDX opened at $3.62 on Wednesday. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $4.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $902.07 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.45 and a beta of 0.70. Ardelyx has a 52-week low of $3.33 and a 52-week high of $8.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 3.15 and a current ratio of 3.34.

Ardelyx (NASDAQ:ARDX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by ($0.02). Ardelyx had a negative return on equity of 36.00% and a negative net margin of 12.35%.The business had revenue of $120.88 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $121.03 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.08) EPS. Ardelyx's revenue for the quarter was up 34.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Ardelyx will post -0.2 EPS for the current year.

Ardelyx Company Profile

Ardelyx, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for gastrointestinal and cardiorenal conditions. The company's lead product candidates and marketed medicines are designed to address disorders involving the regulation of phosphate and other substances in the digestive system.

Ardelyx markets XPHOZAH (tenapanor) in the United States for reducing serum phosphorus in adults with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. Tenapanor works locally in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting the sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3, thereby reducing intestinal phosphate absorption.

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