Akebia Ther logo

Akebia Ther(AKBA)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$0.77
10/13/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for AKBA

10/13/2026: AKBA (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Akebia Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing unmet medical needs in kidney disease, specifically through its recently approved drug, Vafseo. Its main strength lies in this specialized focus and the successful regulatory approval of its primary therapeutic candidate. The central investment story revolves around the market adoption of Vafseo within the dialysis patient population. However, the company faces substantial risks, including intense competition from established, well-resourced pharmaceutical giants and the significant execution risks inherent in a commercial launch. It may suit growth-oriented investors with a high risk tolerance, who should closely monitor quarterly sales updates and ongoing market access developments.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company is at a pivotal commercialization stage, offering potential growth contingent on Vafseo adoption.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveMomentum investors may find interest during periods of positive news flow regarding product adoption or regulatory updates.
Value investorWeak fitThe lack of consistent profitability and reliance on future cash flows makes it a poor fit for traditional value strategies.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not pay a dividend and focuses capital on growth.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh volatility and operational risks make this unsuitable for risk-averse investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighBiotech stocks are prone to significant swings based on clinical and commercial outcomes.
Valuation riskMedium / highValuations are often speculative and tied to long-term projections that may not materialize.
Competition risk (ESA market)HighCompeting against entrenched players with large market share is difficult and resource-intensive.
Business qualityMediumThe company is transitioning to a commercial model, which is a major shift in operational quality.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe company focuses resources on R&D and launch, not returning cash to shareholders.
Execution riskHighSuccessful commercial rollout of Vafseo is critical for future solvency and growth.

Price Behavior

Steep Decline
PRICE PATH

Steep Decline

The stock price has dropped sharply with strong downward pressure.

Highly Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Highly Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent, large price swings that make its near-term movement less predictable.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -41.21%
Avg. Invested days 27
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/13/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
AKBA receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
AKBA has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, strong growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+92.3%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 28.8%) are partially offset by weak profitability (net margin -2.3%), modest insider ownership of 1.98%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
AKBA's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 23.9%). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is AKBA's strongest growth driver at +267.1% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). Revenue growth (+47.5%, strong) and earnings growth (+92.3%, strong) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 40.8% and approximately 98.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.98% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 7.21%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.09%
AQR Capital Management LLC 3.30%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 2.43%
State Street Corp 1.95%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
AKBA generates approximately $833 of gross profit, $99 of operating income, and $288 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -43.64% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
AKBA has a liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 218.97M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.92
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 3.92
Volume (30-day avg) 7.0M shares
Beta 0.18
52 Weeks Range 0.77 - 3.20
Updated Date 10/13/2026
52 Weeks Range 0.77 - 3.20
Updated Date 10/13/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.12

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Product SalesRevenue generated from the sale of Vafseo in the United States.The company earns money primarily by selling its approved drug to healthcare providers and dialysis centers.
Collaboration and LicensingRevenue from licensing agreements and milestone payments from partners.Akebia also generates income through partnerships with other companies to develop and sell drugs in different markets.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 28.74
Enterprise Value 157.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1
Enterprise Value 157.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.72
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 64.35
Shares Outstanding 277.11M
Shares Floating 272.25M
Shares Outstanding 277.11M
Shares Floating 272.25M
Percent Insiders 1.98
Percent Institutions 40.78

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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