Candel Therapeutics Inc logo

Candel Therapeutics Inc(CADL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
5-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$8.19
10/16/2026
(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 CADL

10/16/2026: CADL (5-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Candel Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing viral immunotherapies for cancer. Its primary strength lies in its proprietary enLIGHTEN platform, which aims to prime the immune system to fight tumors. The investment story centers on the potential of candidates like CAN-2409 to achieve clinical success in underserved oncology markets. However, the company faces significant risks, including no current product revenue, high cash burn, and intense competition from established pharmaceutical players. The stock is best suited for high-risk, growth-oriented investors who should closely monitor clinical trial results, regulatory updates, and the company's capital management as key indicators of long-term viability.

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 offers high-growth potential if clinical trials succeed, but carries extreme risk.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum may build around clinical data readouts, provided the broader market sentiment is positive.
Value investorWeak fitThe company lacks current earnings or assets that would justify a traditional value-based investment.
Dividend investorWeak fitCandel does not pay dividends and is currently in a capital-intensive growth phase.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh volatility and the risks associated with biotechnology development make this unsuitable for low-risk portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighClinical trial results can cause significant swings in stock price.
Valuation riskHighValuation is speculative and based on the future potential of drug candidates.
Competition risk (Oncology immunotherapies)HighMajor pharmaceutical companies dominate the oncology market with significant resources.
Business qualityMediumThe platform technology is innovative, but the company lacks commercial track record.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe company does not generate the cash flow required for dividends.
Execution riskHighSuccess depends entirely on the outcome of complex and lengthy clinical development cycles.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 155.83%
Avg. Invested days 30
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 5.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/16/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CADL receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak unit economics, soft quantitative characteristics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CADL has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+30.8%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 0.0%), slightly negative revenue growth (+0.0%), soft profitability (net margin 0.0%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CADL's financial health is supported by strong efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 0.0% of revenue). Profitability is weak (1 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is CADL's strongest growth driver at +30.8% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+0.0%, slightly negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-43.9%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 67.7% and approximately 78.7% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 14.65% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

FMR Inc 14.36%
RTW INVESTMENTS, LLC 8.39%
BlackRock Inc 6.49%
State Street Corp 4.64%
Portolan Capital Management, LLC 4.56%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CADL generates approximately $-0 of gross profit, $-0 of operating income, and $-0 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Weak margins explain the 1-star rating, with weak cash conversion and strong capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.00%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CADL has a liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

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

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 626.69M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 21.75
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 21.75
Volume (30-day avg) 1.1M shares
Beta -0.31
52 Weeks Range 4.35 - 14.00
Updated Date 10/18/2026
52 Weeks Range 4.35 - 14.00
Updated Date 10/18/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -1.46

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Drug DevelopmentClinical trial development for CAN-2409 and CAN-3110.Candel is currently spending money to develop drugs rather than making money from sales.
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Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 43.48
Enterprise Value 711.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 436.42
Enterprise Value 711.85M
Price to Sales(TTM) 436.42
Enterprise Value to Revenue 821.98
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -0.01
Shares Outstanding 76.52M
Shares Floating 60.22M
Shares Outstanding 76.52M
Shares Floating 60.22M
Percent Insiders 14.65
Percent Institutions 67.67

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.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.