ATHM

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Fundamental data last updated:April 13, 2026

company profile

SECTOR

Communication Services

industry

Internet Content & Information

Exchange

NYSE

County of HQ

United States

Next Earnings Date

05/14/26

Business Summary

Akebia Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies, generating revenue primarily through drug sales and related partnerships. Its model depends on securing regulatory approvals, scaling commercialization, and extracting value from intellectual property. Cash generation hinges on maintaining pricing power for approved therapies while controlling R&D and operating costs. The moat, to the extent it exists, is rooted in proprietary compounds and regulatory exclusivity, but financial metrics suggest that moat strength is currently under pressure rather than expanding.

VALUATION

P/E

9.8

Market Cap ($M USD)

$2,112

Forward P/E

10.4

PEG

-

PRICE TO SALES

2.3

PRICE TO BOOK

0.6

EV / EBITDA

-9.3

5-Year Average P/E

DIVIDEND

Yield

10.00%

Annual Payout

$1.79

Payout Ratio

102.00%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth

1

5-Year Dividend Growth Rate

2.10%

Financial Health & Profitability

Earnings Per Share

$1.78

Next Year EPS Growth Estimate

$1.73

Next Year Revenue Growth Estimate

1.30%

Return on Equity (ROE)

6.10%

Operating Margin

12.50%

Debt-to-Equity

0

Piotroski F-Score

4

Altman Z-Score

3.8

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

6.10%%

Current Ratio

7.8

Quick Ratio

Gainseekers Quantitative Analysis

Summary

Akebia Therapeutics screens as a distressed, high-volatility healthcare play with speculative upside but severe balance sheet risk. The absence of both a P/E and Forward P/E, combined with a projected EPS of -$0.02 next year versus current EPS of 11.1, signals collapsing earnings visibility and a broken near-term growth profile. The Altman Z-Score of -4.5 is a glaring bankruptcy-risk flag, overwhelming any superficial valuation comfort from a modest 1.5 Price/Sales ratio. With negative operating margin (-16.40%) and ROE (-16.90%), the market is clearly discounting financial instability rather than mispricing hidden growth. This is not a “cheap” stock—it is priced for survival uncertainty.

AI Exposure / Tech Reliance

As a Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic company within Healthcare, Akebia operates in a sector increasingly influenced by AI-driven drug discovery and data analytics. However, there is no financial evidence here—via margins or growth metrics—that AI leverage is currently translating into operating efficiency. Until operating margin turns positive, tech resilience remains theoretical rather than demonstrated in financial performance.

The Bull Case

A value-oriented investor could argue that the company’s 22.30% ROIC stands out dramatically relative to its negative operating margin, suggesting that invested capital has, at least historically, generated strong returns. The Piotroski F-Score of 6 indicates middling but not catastrophic financial quality—this is not a zero-quality balance sheet story. A 1.5 Price/Sales ratio in biotech is not demanding, particularly with a Market Cap of $375M, which leaves room for asymmetric upside if earnings stabilize. The Current Ratio of 1.6 suggests near-term liquidity is not immediately critical, buying time for operational execution. For aggressive GARP investors, this is a small-cap turnaround candidate where even modest improvement in margins could dramatically re-rate the equity.

The Bear Case

The bear case is significantly stronger. A -4.5 Altman Z-Score screams financial distress, and negative operating margin (-16.40%) alongside negative ROE (-16.90%) confirms capital destruction. Earnings are projected to collapse from 11.1 to -$0.02, and Sales Growth Next Year is listed as -$0.09, indicating contraction rather than scaling. The absence of Forward P/E and PEG data reflects a lack of credible growth trajectory, while Price/Book at 11.5 is expensive for a company generating negative returns. This is a structurally weak balance sheet story masked by isolated metrics like ROIC.

Market Sentiment & Smart Money

Short Interest %

2.60%

Analyst Consensus

3

Average Analyst Price Target

$22.01

Institutional Ownership %

46.60%

1-Year Beta

0.68

Insider Buying % (6 Mo)

0.20%%

Distance to 52-Week High

59.80%%

Distance to 52-Week Low

106.90%%