Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial 
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Revenue
- Valuation
- Analyst Ratings
Upturn AI SWOT - About
LGND 
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
06/30/2025: LGND (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
7 Analysts rated it
Moderately tracked stock, growing coverage, gaining market and investor attention.
1 Year Target Price $143.88
1 Year Target Price $143.88
| 4 | Strong Buy |
| 3 | Buy |
| 0 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -7.47% | Avg. Invested days 32 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 06/30/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 2.20B USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 143.88 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 143.88 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 7 | Beta 0.71 | 52 Weeks Range 81.74 - 129.90 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 81.74 - 129.90 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -7.29 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin -73.07% | Operating Margin (TTM) -80.87% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) -1.14% | Return on Equity (TTM) -16.56% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 19.16 | Enterprise Value 1999905694 | Price to Sales(TTM) 12.14 |
Enterprise Value 1999905694 | Price to Sales(TTM) 12.14 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 11.02 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 19.13 | Shares Outstanding 19294200 | Shares Floating 18861593 |
Shares Outstanding 19294200 | Shares Floating 18861593 | ||
Percent Insiders 2.29 | Percent Institutions 99.86 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 3 | Target Price 143.88 | Buy 3 | Strong Buy 4 |
Buy 3 | Strong Buy 4 | ||
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 steroid receptor technology, it evolved to a licensing and royalty-based business model centered around drug discovery technologies like Captisol and OmniAb.
Core Business Areas
- Captisol: Captisol is a chemically modified cyclodextrin used to improve the solubility and stability of drugs. Ligand licenses Captisol to pharmaceutical companies for use in various formulations.
- OmniAb: OmniAb is a multi-species antibody discovery platform used to generate fully human antibodies. Ligand licenses OmniAb to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for antibody drug discovery.
Leadership and Structure
Ligand Pharmaceuticals operates with a focus on partnerships and collaborations. The CEO is Todd Davis. The organizational structure involves a licensing and partnering approach, with relatively lean internal operations.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Captisol: Captisol enhances drug solubility and stability. Ligand earns revenue through licensing agreements and royalties on sales of drugs incorporating Captisol. While direct market share is difficult to quantify due to the indirect nature of sales. Competitors include other cyclodextrin suppliers and alternative solubilization technologies.
- OmniAb: OmniAb is an antibody discovery platform. Ligand earns revenue through licensing fees and royalties on drugs developed using OmniAb. Direct revenue from OmniAb was $118.9 million in 2023. Competitors include Regeneron (VELOCIMMUNE), Harbour BioMed (Harbour Mice), and other antibody discovery platforms.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The pharmaceutical industry is characterized by high R&D costs, regulatory hurdles, and intense competition. There's growing demand for drug delivery technologies and antibody-based therapeutics.
Positioning
Ligand is positioned as a technology provider, generating revenue from licensing and royalties rather than directly marketing drugs. This model provides a diversified revenue stream and lower risk compared to traditional pharmaceutical companies.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for drug delivery technologies and antibody discovery platforms is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars. Ligand is positioned to capture a portion of this market through its licensing agreements and strategic partnerships.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Diversified revenue stream through licensing and royalties
- Proprietary technology platforms (Captisol and OmniAb)
- Lower risk business model compared to traditional pharma
- Strong track record of successful partnerships
Weaknesses
- Reliance on partners for drug development and commercialization
- Vulnerability to partner failures or pipeline setbacks
- Potential for generic competition for Captisol-enabled drugs
- Exposure to changes in pharmaceutical industry trends
Opportunities
- Expansion of OmniAb platform to new species and applications
- Strategic acquisitions to broaden technology portfolio
- Increased adoption of Captisol in new drug formulations
- Growing demand for antibody-based therapeutics
Threats
- Competition from alternative drug delivery technologies
- Patent expirations on key technologies
- Regulatory changes impacting drug development
- Economic downturn affecting pharmaceutical spending
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN)
- Argenx SE (ARGX)
- Catalent, Inc. (CTLT)
Competitive Landscape
Ligand differentiates itself through its royalty-based business model and proprietary technology platforms. However, it faces competition from larger pharmaceutical companies with more resources and established drug pipelines.
Major Acquisitions
Pfenex Inc.
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 437.5
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded Ligand's capabilities in protein expression and production, particularly for biosimilars.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Ligand's revenue growth has been driven by the expansion of its Captisol and OmniAb platforms. However, profitability has been inconsistent due to fluctuating R&D expenses and strategic investments.
Future Projections: Analysts project moderate revenue growth for Ligand in the coming years, driven by new licensing agreements and royalties. Profitability is expected to improve as restructuring initiatives take effect.
Recent Initiatives: Ligand has recently focused on streamlining its operations, reducing costs, and focusing on its core technology platforms. It also continues to actively pursue new partnerships and licensing agreements.
Summary
Ligand Pharmaceuticals operates a relatively low-risk business based on licensing and royalty streams from its Captisol and OmniAb technologies. While revenue has grown, profitability has been inconsistent and shareholder returns are negative. The company faces competition and relies on its partners for successful drug development. Ligand's streamlined operations and pursuit of new partnerships are positive, however, must maintain technology relevance.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Investor Relations
- SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Analyst Reports
- Company Press Releases
Disclaimers:
The data provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market share data is based on estimates and may vary. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.