1 Small-Cap Biotech Stock for High-Risk Canadian Investors

Here’s why Theratechnologies is a solid bet for investors with large risk appetite.

| More on:
Test tubes

Image source: Getty Images

Biotech companies are built and broken on the backs of superstar drugs and FDA approvals. A green light by the FDA boosts the company’s stock into the stratosphere. However, it is not the easiest approval in the world.

Theratechnologies (TSX:TH) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company addressing unmet medical needs by bringing to market specialized therapies for people with orphan medical conditions, including those living with HIV. Simply put, they improve the quality of life for HIV patients. The $294 million company has reported losses since 2017, but the potential in the company’s drugs makes me bullish on it.

Theratechnologies’s potential superstar drug Egrifta is used to treat HIV-related lipodystrophy, but it could unlock new potential, as the company explores the effects the drug has on fatty liver disease.

Egrifta’s success in the HIV space highlighted the drug’s benefits in dissolving liver fat. Theratchnologies has filed a trial to expand the scope of this drug. This is an important factor in why Theratchnologies is a company to watch out for.

The flagship drug Trogarzo, which is used to treat the very difficult, multi-drug-resistant HIV-I is also growing in sales had received priority review status from the FDA, and the same could be a gamechanger for Egrifta.

Theratchnologies was a darling of the market in 2018, where it was trading at almost $13.5, but a series of bad quarters have brought the price down to $3.74

The company’s revenues were US$45 million in 2018. Management projects that revenues for 2019 will be in the range of US$63 million, an increase of almost 40% from 2018. Theratchnologies just announced preliminary results for the fourth quarter as well as provided guidance for fiscal 2020.

It expects net revenue to rise 17.7% year over year to US$16.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company expects net sales of Trogarzo to rise by 81% year over year to US$7.7 million in the December quarter. Net sales of Ergrifta are estimated at US$8.7 million in Q4 — a decline of 10% year over year.

The company’s press release regarding Ergrifta stated, “Although unit sales actually increased 5.3% compared to both Q4 2018 and Q3 2019, net sales for Q4 2019 were impacted by an unexpected charge related to government rebates not previously recorded by one of the company’s distributing pharmacies.”

What’s next for investors?

In November 2019, Theratechnologies announced that Egrifta SVTM (2mg/vial) was now commercially available in the United States. Theratechnologies expects revenues to reach between US$83-US$87 million in 2020. This would represent a 31-37% increase from the fiscal year 2019.

Last year, Theratechnologies experienced growth and transition. It rebuilt its research pipeline and experienced strong top-line growth. In 2020, the company aims to implement various marketing initiatives for Trogarzo in the United States. It also plans to start the commercialization of this product in Europe.

Based on the company’s future plans and growth potential, one can estimate growth in excess of 20% for the next three to four years. Analysts have given it an average price target of $6.86 in the next 12 months. That’s an increase of over 92% in a year. The higher end of the target is $12.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Investing

A cannabis plant grows.
Cannabis Stocks

Canopy Growth Stock Is Rising But I’m Worried About This One Thing

Canopy Growth stock is soaring as the legalization effort makes real progress in both Germany and the United States.

Read more »

young woman celebrating a victory while working with mobile phone in the office
Investing

3 Roaring Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years

These top TSX stocks are excellent long-term buys, given their multi-year growth potential and solid underlying businesses.

Read more »

Two seniors float in a pool.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: How to Earn $1,890 in Annual Tax-Free Income

Plunk these investments into your TFSA to earn passive income and avoid the taxman.

Read more »

grow dividends
Investing

Here’s My Top 3 TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now

Even though the TSX has been rising, there are still some good bargains out there. Here are three top compounding…

Read more »

Target. Stand out from the crowd
Investing

Prediction: This Canadian Growth Stock Could Double by 2030

Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD) is a top growth stock that could do well over the next six or so years.

Read more »

Businessman holding AI cloud
Tech Stocks

Could Investing $20,000 in Nvidia Make You a Millionaire?

Nvidia stock has made investors millionaires in the last 10 years. Is it too late to invest to become a…

Read more »

Engineers walk through a facility.
Dividend Stocks

1 TSX Stock I Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

AtkinsRéalis (TSX:ATRL) is one TSX stock I'd never invest in.

Read more »

money cash dividends
Stocks for Beginners

Have $500? 3 Absurdly Cheap Stocks Long-Term Investors Should Buy Right Now

If you're looking for cheap stocks, these three have a huge future ahead of them, all while costing far less…

Read more »