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Upturn AI SWOT - About
LGND 
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
03/27/2025: LGND (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
AI Based Fundamental Rating
Below Average Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, often underperform the market, warranting careful consideration before investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -21.63% | Avg. Invested days 35 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 03/27/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 1.92B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 143.57 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 143.57 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 132636 | Beta 0.97 | 52 Weeks Range 67.72 - 129.90 | Updated Date 04/6/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 67.72 - 129.90 | Updated Date 04/6/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -0.22 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin -2.41% | Operating Margin (TTM) 3.94% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 1.66% | Return on Equity (TTM) -0.53% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 16.34 | Enterprise Value 1667136453 | Price to Sales(TTM) 11.47 |
Enterprise Value 1667136453 | Price to Sales(TTM) 11.47 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 9.97 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 40.87 | Shares Outstanding 19255400 | Shares Floating 18843481 |
Shares Outstanding 19255400 | Shares Floating 18843481 | ||
Percent Insiders 2.06 | Percent Institutions 98.45 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 4.43 | Target Price 144 | Buy 4 | Strong Buy 3 |
Buy 4 | Strong Buy 3 | ||
Hold - | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Company Overview
History and Background
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was founded in 1987. Initially focused on hormone-related therapies, it evolved into a biopharmaceutical company specializing in drug discovery and development technologies, particularly its Captisol technology and OmniAb platforms. Ligand has primarily operated as a royalty-generating entity, licensing its technologies and receiving milestone and royalty payments.
Core Business Areas
- Captisol: Captisol is a chemically modified cyclodextrin used to improve the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of drugs. It generates revenue through royalties and material sales to pharmaceutical companies.
- OmniAb: OmniAb is a technology platform for antibody discovery, providing a diverse range of transgenic animals for generating human antibodies. Ligand licenses the platform to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and receives royalties on resulting drug sales.
- Peloton: Peloton advantage platform combines an industry-leading bioanalytical laboratory with a proprietary software platform to offer integrated drug development solutions.
Leadership and Structure
Ligand is led by CEO Todd Davis. The organizational structure includes departments focusing on research and development, business development, finance, and legal affairs. They use a decentralized structure where licensees are responsible for clinical development and commercialization of partnered assets.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Captisol: Captisol is used in numerous FDA-approved products. While precise market share is difficult to ascertain due to its broad applications, it's a key ingredient in drugs like Kyprolis (Amgen) and Noxafil IV (Merck). Competitors include other cyclodextrin manufacturers and alternative solubilization technologies. Captisol revenue fluctuates based on sales of partner products.
- OmniAb: OmniAb is a leading antibody discovery platform. Its market share is significant within the transgenic animal antibody discovery space. Competitors include companies offering alternative antibody discovery technologies, such as phage display and single B cell cloning. OmniAb has led to the development of numerous marketed and pipeline assets. Revenue is generated through licensing fees and royalties.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The pharmaceutical industry is characterized by high R&D costs, long development timelines, and stringent regulatory requirements. Drug discovery platforms and formulation technologies are in high demand to improve drug efficacy and delivery.
Positioning
Ligand is positioned as a technology provider rather than a drug developer, allowing it to spread risk across multiple partnered programs. Its competitive advantage lies in its established Captisol and OmniAb technologies and royalty model.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for drug formulation technologies and antibody discovery platforms is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Ligand is well positioned to capture a significant portion of this market through its licensing and royalty model.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Established Captisol technology
- Leading OmniAb antibody discovery platform
- Diversified revenue streams through royalties
- Experienced management team
- Low overhead cost structure
Weaknesses
- Dependence on partners' success
- Royalty revenue subject to market fluctuations
- Limited direct control over drug development
- Potential for generic erosion of partnered products
Opportunities
- Expanding applications of Captisol
- Increasing demand for antibody therapeutics
- Strategic partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies
- Acquisition of complementary technologies
- Growth in emerging markets
Threats
- Competition from alternative technologies
- Patent expirations on key products
- Regulatory changes affecting drug development
- Economic downturn impacting pharmaceutical spending
- Failure of partnered drugs in clinical trials
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Catalent (CTLT)
- Lonza (LZAGY)
- Charles River Laboratories (CRL)
Competitive Landscape
Ligand competes with other companies offering drug formulation technologies and antibody discovery platforms. Its advantage lies in its established track record and royalty model. Disadvantages include reliance on partners.
Major Acquisitions
Pfenex Inc.
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 437.5
- Strategic Rationale: Pfenex's protein expression platform expanded Ligand's capabilities in drug development and manufacturing.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Ligand's growth has been driven by the increasing adoption of its Captisol and OmniAb technologies.
Future Projections: Future growth is projected to be driven by new partnerships and the success of partnered drug programs.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include expanding OmniAb platform capabilities and strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies.
Summary
Ligand Pharmaceuticals is a royalty-generating biotechnology company with strong technology platforms, Captisol and OmniAb. Its revenue model relies on partners, making it susceptible to their performance. The company's diverse partnerships provide a degree of stability, but success hinges on clinical and commercial outcomes. Ligand should focus on expanding platform applications and securing strategic deals.
Similar Companies
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
CRL
Charles River Laboratories
CTLT
Catalent Inc
CTLT
Catalent Inc
HALO
Halozyme Therapeutics Inc
HALO
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JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Investor Relations
- SEC Filings
- Industry Reports
- Company Press Releases
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market conditions and company performance are subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Jupiter, FL, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1992-11-18 | CEO & Director Mr. Todd C. Davis Ph.D. | ||
Sector Healthcare | Industry Biotechnology | Full time employees 68 | Website https://www.ligand.com |
Full time employees 68 | Website https://www.ligand.com | ||
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and licenses biopharmaceutical assets worldwide. It offers Pradefovir, Posaconazole, Voriconazole, CAPVAXIVE, NOXAFIL, MenFive, and ZELSUVMI for infectious disease; EVOMELA and KYPROLIS for multiple myeloma; FILSPARI, a dual endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist for immunoglobulin A nephropathy; Ohtuvayre for respiratory disease; PNEUMOSIL, a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to help fight against pneumococcal pneumonia in children; and QARZIBA to treat neuroblastoma. The company also provides Teriparatide injection product for osteoporosis; RYLAZE, a recombinant erwinia asparaginase for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma in adult and pediatric patients; TZIELD, a CD3-directed antibody indicated to delay the onset of Stage 3 type 1 diabetes in adults and children aged 8 years and older with Stage 2 T1D; and VAXNEUVANCE for the prevention of invasive disease caused by streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes. In addition, it offers Duavee for menopause; Frovatriptan to treat Neurology; FYCOMPA and SESQUIENT for CNS; LYTENAVA to treat Opthamology; MEKINIST for cardiology; MINNEBRO for metabolic disease; Nexterone, a captisol-enabled formulation of amiodarone; VEKLURY, an antiviral treatment for COVID-19; and Viviant for osteoporosis. Further, the company develops ACLX-002, Ciforadenant, UGN-301, Viright, JZP341, MB07133, BOT/BAL, and Lasofoxifene for oncology; Ensifentrine for respiratory disease; QTORIN for rare disease; Sparsentan for kidney disease; VK2809 for hepatology; ANEB-001 for acute cannabinoid intoxication; CE-furosemide for cardiology; CE-Meloxicam for neurology; V117, CX2101A, and Sitavig for infectious disease; REV-0100, OPT-302, and Reproxalap for opthamology; Vilazodone and Topiramate Injection for CNS; VK0214 for Rare Disease; and VK5211 for musculoskeletal disorder. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is based in Jupiter, Florida.
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