Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND) Issues FY 2025 Earnings Guidance

Key Points

• Ligand Pharmaceuticals has updated its FY 2025 earnings guidance, projecting an EPS of 6.700-7.000, exceeding the consensus estimate of 6.123, and revenue guidance of $200.0 million-$225.0 million compared to the consensus of $194.0 million.
• On Thursday, Ligand's stock rose by $3.92 to reach $146.32, with a market capitalization of $2.82 billion and a P/E ratio of -20.55.
• The stock has received a range of ratings from analysts, with Oppenheimer raising its price target to $162.00 and a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy".

Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND - Get Free Report) updated its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 6.700-7.000 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 6.123. The company issued revenue guidance of $200.0 million-$225.0 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $194.0 million.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals from $145.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals from $155.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Ligand Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $157.00.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals stock traded down $10.91 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $139.15. The company's stock had a trading volume of 85,714 shares, compared to its average volume of 128,102. Ligand Pharmaceuticals has a one year low of $93.58 and a one year high of $151.55. The company has a market capitalization of $2.68 billion, a P/E ratio of -34.88 and a beta of 0.85. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $122.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $113.76.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The biotechnology company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.06. Ligand Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 40.44% and a negative return on equity of 9.21%. The business had revenue of $47.63 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.87 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.40 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Ligand Pharmaceuticals will post 1.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ligand Pharmaceuticals

In related news, insider Andrew Reardon sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.08, for a total value of $57,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 31,903 shares in the company, valued at $3,639,494.24. This trade represents a 1.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director John W. Kozarich sold 467 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.88, for a total transaction of $61,587.96. Following the sale, the director directly owned 45,989 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,065,029.32. The trade was a 1.01% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 3,401 shares of company stock valued at $396,648 in the last three months. 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Ligand Pharmaceuticals during the first quarter worth $344,000. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Ligand Pharmaceuticals by 25.8% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 6,120 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $644,000 after acquiring an additional 1,256 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in Ligand Pharmaceuticals by 8.2% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 10,660 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,121,000 after buying an additional 809 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its position in Ligand Pharmaceuticals by 176.2% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 36,922 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $3,882,000 after buying an additional 23,553 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in Ligand Pharmaceuticals by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 55,327 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $5,817,000 after purchasing an additional 4,926 shares in the last quarter. 91.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ligand Pharmaceuticals

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and licensing of biopharmaceutical assets worldwide. Its commercial programs include Kyprolis and Evomela, which are used to treat multiple myeloma; Rylaze, a recombinant erwinia asparaginase for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma in adult and pediatric patients; Filspari, a dual endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist in development for rare kidney diseases and non-immunosuppressive treatment indicated for immunoglobulin A nephropathy; Teriparatide injection product for osteoporosis; Vaxneuvance for the prevention of invasive disease caused by streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes; and Pneumosil, a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to help fight against pneumococcal pneumonia among children.