HRTXHeron Therapeutics (HRTX) presents a mixed investment profile. While it operates in the critical healthcare sector with a focus on innovative drug delivery, its financial performance indicates challenges. The company is not currently paying dividends and has a history of negative earnings and cash flow. Technically, recent performance shows some short-term gains, but longer-term trends and key indicators suggest a cautious approach. The thematic relevance in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals is present, but execution and profitability remain key concerns for investors.
Heron Therapeutics operates within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, which have strong thematic relevance due to innovation in healthcare and unmet medical needs. The company's focus on novel drug delivery technologies like Biochronomer positions it to address specific therapeutic areas. However, the success of its product pipeline and market penetration are critical to realizing these thematic potentials. The healthcare sector is also subject to significant regulatory changes and pricing pressures, which can impact thematic performance.
Heron Therapeutics is experiencing revenue growth but is currently unprofitable, with negative net income and EPS. The company's balance sheet shows a significant amount of debt relative to its equity, although it maintains substantial cash equivalents. Free cash flow has been consistently negative, indicating reliance on financing activities. The valuation metrics are difficult to interpret due to negative earnings, but P/S ratios suggest it's not overly expensive based on current sales, though profitability is a major concern.
Heron Therapeutics' stock has shown recent positive momentum, with a 5-day performance of +0.53% and year-to-date performance of +19.37%. However, its one-year performance is significantly negative (-34.81%), indicating considerable volatility. Key technical indicators across various timeframes show mixed signals. While some shorter-term moving averages and oscillators suggest buying or neutral sentiment, longer-term indicators and some oscillators point towards selling or neutral positions. The stock is trading below its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages on a daily basis, suggesting a bearish longer-term trend. The RSI is in neutral territory, while Stochastic RSI is mixed.
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Biotechnology Innovation | 70 |
| Oncology Support Therapies | 65 |
| Pain Management Innovation | 70 |
| Market Access & Reimbursement | 60 |
| Competitive Landscape | 60 |
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Valuation | 60 |
| Profitability | 15 |
| Growth | 70 |
| Balance Sheet Health | 10 |
| Cash Flow | 20 |
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Trend Analysis | 30 |
| Momentum | 40 |
| Volume | 75 |
| Short-term Performance | 65 |
| Oscillators | 70 |
Positive Earnings Surprises
Recent quarterly earnings per share (EPS) estimates have been consistently beaten, with the latest quarter showing a positive surprise of 249.93% (reported $0.01 vs. estimate of -$0.01).
Improving Valuation Metrics (Quarterly)
Quarterly Price-to-Sales (PS) ratio has decreased from 16.1 in Q4 2021 to 8.6 in Q1 2025, suggesting improving sales efficiency relative to market capitalization.
High Price-to-Sales Ratio (Historical)
The Price-to-Sales (PS) ratio was significantly higher in previous years (e.g., 16.1 in Q4 2021), indicating potentially high market expectations in the past that may not have been fully met.
Negative EPS Trends (Historical)
Historically, Earnings Per Share (EPS) has been negative (e.g., -0.05 EPS TT M), suggesting ongoing profitability challenges. Although recent quarters show positive surprises, the overall trend requires scrutiny.
August 2025
4
Next Earnings Date
H: $0.00
A: $-0.01
L: $-0.02
H: 38.80M
A: 38.08M
L: 37.00M
Heron Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, engages in developing and commercializing therapeutic that enhances medical care. The company's product candidates utilize its proprietary Biochronomer, a drug delivery technology, which delivers therapeutic levels of a range of short-acting pharmacological agents over a period from days to weeks with a single administration. It offers SUSTOL (granisetron), an extended-release injection for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy, or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide combination chemotherapy regimens; and CINVANTI, an intravenous formulation of aprepitant, a substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, as well as nausea and vomiting associated with moderately emetogenic cancer chemotherapy. The company is also developing ZYNRELEF, a dual-acting local anesthetic that delivers a fixed-dose combination of the local anesthetic bupivacaine and a low dose of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam; and APONVIE, an intravenous formulation of a substance P/neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist indicated for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults. The company was formerly known as A.P. Pharma, Inc. and changed its name to Heron Therapeutics, Inc. in January 2014. Heron Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina.
6.25 USD
The 39 analysts offering 1 year price forecasts for HRTX have a max estimate of 9.00 and a min estimate of 4.00.