Last Update 28 Nov 25
Fair value Decreased 0.43%ASND: Expanding Real-World Uptake Will Drive Sustained Strength Despite Recent Headlines
Ascendis Pharma’s analyst price target was adjusted slightly to $257.66 from $258.77, as analysts cite positive trends in Yorvipath adoption and broader market confidence despite recent headline risks.
Analyst Commentary
Recent analyst commentary on Ascendis Pharma signals broad confidence in the company’s prospects, particularly with respect to growing Yorvipath adoption and commercial execution. However, some analysts have identified areas of caution and ongoing monitoring.
Bullish Takeaways- Bullish analysts highlight expanding real-world use of Yorvipath in hypoparathyroidism, with surveys indicating strong uptake trends in the most recent quarter.
- Recent regulatory milestones such as approval for Yorvipath in Japan contribute to a positive long-term sales outlook, with projected peak sales running into the billions.
- Competitive concerns from emerging therapies are viewed as limited, as recent data on alternative once-weekly treatments show mixed efficacy and safety profiles compared to Yorvipath.
- Despite isolated headline risks, such as individual adverse event reports, analysts remain confident that such cases do not materially impact the drug’s safety profile or investment thesis.
- Some analysts maintain caution regarding ongoing monitoring of adverse events, noting the inherent uncertainty in establishing causality from post-marketing databases.
- Competition remains a risk factor, as new data from rivals could alter the treatment landscape, even if immediate threats appear limited.
- Analysts are watching for updated guidance from Ascendis on payer coverage, reimbursement trends, and patient discontinuation rates, factors that could impact sustained commercial momentum.
What's in the News
- The U.S. FDA has extended the PDUFA target action date for TransCon CNP (navepegritide) in children with achondroplasia to February 28, 2026, after the submission of additional information considered a major amendment. (Key Developments)
- Pivotal Week 52 results from the ApproaCH Trial show TransCon CNP led to significantly higher annualized growth velocity, improved body proportionality, and a safety profile similar to placebo in children with achondroplasia. The data were published in JAMA Pediatrics and the product is under Priority Review by the FDA and is also under review by the European Medicines Agency. (Key Developments)
- A new pooled analysis demonstrated that adults with hypoparathyroidism treated with TransCon PTH (palopegteriparatide) experienced clinically meaningful improvements in renal function through Year 3 of the Company’s PaTH Forward and PaTHway trials. Most patients remained independent from conventional therapy and maintained normocalcemia. (Key Developments)
- SKYTROFA (TransCon hGH) became commercially available in the United States in wider dosing ranges for adults with growth hormone deficiency. (Key Developments)
- Ascendis Pharma submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application to the European Medicines Agency for TransCon CNP as a treatment for children with achondroplasia. (Key Developments)
Valuation Changes
- Fair Value: Decreased slightly from $258.77 to $257.66, reflecting a modest adjustment in consensus expectations.
- Discount Rate: Increased marginally from 6.77% to 6.81%, suggesting a minor rise in the perceived risk profile.
- Revenue Growth: Rose slightly from 53.53% to 53.54%, indicating stable optimism about future top-line expansion.
- Net Profit Margin: Declined from 40.91% to 40.41%, showing a small expected reduction in profitability margins.
- Future P/E: Increased from 18.10x to 18.61x, reflecting a slight market shift in forward earnings multiples.
Key Takeaways
- Strong product adoption, expanding indications, and pipeline advances support robust, recurring revenue growth and reduce concentration risks.
- Alignment with healthcare trends and increasing global disease prevalence drives broader market penetration, supporting long-term revenue and margin expansion.
- High dependence on a few key drugs, rising costs, and regulatory or competitive risks threaten growth, margins, and overall financial stability.
Catalysts
About Ascendis Pharma- Operates as a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing TransCon-based therapies for unmet medical needs in Denmark, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally.
- Robust adoption and accelerating global launch of YORVIPATH, underpinned by strong demand, broad payer approvals, expanding commercial reach to more countries, and label expansion efforts (e.g., wider indications and higher dosing), is expected to drive sustained top-line revenue growth and support margin leverage as the installed patient base increases and access improves.
- Expansion of SKYTROFA into adult growth hormone deficiency and pursuit of further label extensions (pediatric and multiple rare indications), alongside continued dominance in pediatric GHD, broadens the addressable market and enables new recurring revenue streams, contributing to both revenue growth and improving long-term earnings stability.
- Regulatory progress and pipeline advancement, such as the priority review for TransCon CNP in achondroplasia and positive combination trial results, are paving the way for new blockbuster therapies and potential multi-billion EUR peak sales opportunities, enhancing future revenue growth and reducing revenue concentration risk.
- Long-acting, patient-centric TransCon platform aligns with healthcare provider and payer preferences for convenient, durable treatments, reinforcing strong uptake and value-based reimbursement, thus supporting premium pricing, market penetration, and gross margin improvement.
- Increasing global prevalence and diagnosis of chronic endocrine and rare diseases, combined with rising healthcare spending and treatment access in both developed and emerging markets, structurally expands Ascendis's addressable patient pool, facilitating steady, secular demand growth and durable net revenue expansion over the long term.
Ascendis Pharma Future Earnings and Revenue Growth
Assumptions
How have these above catalysts been quantified?- Analysts are assuming Ascendis Pharma's revenue will grow by 63.9% annually over the next 3 years.
- Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from -55.3% today to 38.3% in 3 years time.
- Analysts expect earnings to reach €826.6 million (and earnings per share of €12.6) by about September 2028, up from €-271.2 million today. However, there is a considerable amount of disagreement amongst the analysts with the most bullish expecting €1.2 billion in earnings, and the most bearish expecting €139.6 million.
- In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 19.8x on those 2028 earnings, up from -38.3x today. This future PE is greater than the current PE for the US Biotechs industry at 15.5x.
- Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 1.33% per year for the next 3 years.
- To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 6.45%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.
Ascendis Pharma Future Earnings Per Share Growth
Risks
What could happen that would invalidate this narrative?- Heavy dependence on continued blockbuster growth from YORVIPATH and SKYTROFA-if uptake stalls, reimbursement approval timelines slow, or competitors introduce better or lower-priced alternatives, both revenues and earnings could be substantially impacted in future years.
- Elevated SG&A (selling, general, and administrative) costs and global commercial expansion remain high relative to revenues; if quarterly sequential growth moderates or cost discipline weakens, profit margins and cash flow sustainability may be threatened over the long term.
- Risks surrounding payer dynamics and drug pricing pressures in the U.S. and international markets: increasing scrutiny, value-based reimbursement, and potential price cuts for rare disease biologics can erode pricing power and compress revenues and net margins.
- Reliance on expansion or regulatory successes for future growth (e.g., TransCon CNP label expansion/combo approvals, YORVIPATH higher dose approval in the U.S.)-any delays, failed trials, or unfavorable label outcomes could weaken growth prospects, leading to volatility in future earnings.
- Ongoing high R&D investment needs, coupled with increased competition from both established players (such as BioMarin for achondroplasia) and emerging biosimilars, could challenge portfolio differentiation, forcing greater spend to maintain market share and thus impacting both operating margins and net income over time.
Valuation
How have all the factors above been brought together to estimate a fair value?- The analysts have a consensus price target of $251.087 for Ascendis Pharma based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $306.97, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $202.53.
- In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be €2.2 billion, earnings will come to €826.6 million, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 19.8x, assuming you use a discount rate of 6.4%.
- Given the current share price of $200.02, the analyst price target of $251.09 is 20.3% higher.
- We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.
How well do narratives help inform your perspective?
Disclaimer
AnalystConsensusTarget is a tool utilizing a Large Language Model (LLM) that ingests data on consensus price targets, forecasted revenue and earnings figures, as well as the transcripts of earnings calls to produce qualitative analysis. The narratives produced by AnalystConsensusTarget are general in nature and are based solely on analyst data and publicly-available material published by the respective companies. These scenarios are not indicative of the company's future performance and are exploratory in nature. Simply Wall St has no position in the company(s) mentioned. Simply Wall St may provide the securities issuer or related entities with website advertising services for a fee, on an arm's length basis. These relationships have no impact on the way we conduct our business, the content we host, or how our content is served to users. The price targets and estimates used are consensus data, and do not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and they do not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Note that AnalystConsensusTarget's analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.



