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Pipeline Progress And Global Launches Will Expand Market Reach

Published
27 Nov 24
Updated
05 Oct 25
AnalystConsensusTarget's Fair Value
US$245.61
14.7% undervalued intrinsic discount
05 Oct
US$209.55
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1Y
62.6%
7D
2.7%

Author's Valuation

US$245.6114.7% undervalued intrinsic discount

AnalystConsensusTarget Fair Value

Last Update05 Oct 25
Fair value Decreased 2.18%

The consensus analyst price target for Ascendis Pharma was adjusted from $251.09 to $245.61. This reflects slightly more conservative growth and fair value assumptions as analysts evaluated competitive dynamics in hypoparathyroidism and the evolving outlook for the company’s key therapy, Yorvipath.

Analyst Commentary

Analyst feedback on Ascendis Pharma reflects a nuanced view of the company’s prospects, particularly in light of evolving competitive data and recent commercial developments for Yorvipath. The following summarizes prevailing sentiment and valuation considerations:

Bullish Takeaways
  • Bullish analysts have raised price targets following positive commercial progression for Yorvipath. Newly approved market opportunities, such as Japan, are being factored into growth projections.
  • Yorvipath’s sales trajectory has been described as impressive, with confidence expressed in the company’s approach to U.S. reimbursement. This is improving the outlook for revenue acceleration and operating leverage.
  • Competitive therapies in development have yet to demonstrate a sufficiently compelling clinical profile or safety to meaningfully threaten Yorvipath’s market position, according to recent evaluations.
  • Peak sales estimates for Yorvipath remain robust, reflecting optimism about the global addressable market and continued execution on regulatory and commercial milestones.
Bearish Takeaways
  • Bearish analysts express caution regarding competitive dynamics, particularly as alternative therapies show efficacy rates comparable to Yorvipath, even if their statistical significance and safety profiles are not yet proven.
  • The relatively high adverse event rates and uncertain dosing for rival therapies inject an element of risk into long-term market share assumptions.
  • Recent price target adjustments reflect a slightly more conservative stance, signaling some analyst concern over the pace of adoption or regulatory hurdles in new geographies.
  • Persistent volatility in valuation targets points to lingering uncertainty around how quickly Ascendis will realize full commercial potential for Yorvipath in both existing and new markets.

What's in the News

  • The U.S. FDA has approved SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin-tcgd) for adults with growth hormone deficiency, expanding its indication beyond pediatric patients (Key Developments).
  • New Week 156 data from the Phase 3 PaTHway Trial confirm durable efficacy and safety of TransCon PTH in adults with hypoparathyroidism. The data show improvements in kidney function and quality of life (Key Developments).
  • Ascendis Pharma presented long-term safety and efficacy data for TransCon PTH and TransCon CNP at ENDO 2025. The presentation highlighted both adult and pediatric clinical trial outcomes (Key Developments).
  • Ascendis and VISEN Pharmaceuticals amended their Commercial Supply Framework Agreement, widening the range of entities within the Ascendis Group eligible to supply products and increasing operational flexibility (Key Developments).

Valuation Changes

  • Consensus Analyst Price Target: Decreased from $251.09 to $245.61, reflecting a more cautious outlook.
  • Discount Rate: Increased slightly from 6.45% to 6.55%, indicating a modest increase in perceived investment risk.
  • Revenue Growth: Decreased from 63.87% to 63.61%, suggesting marginally lower forward growth expectations.
  • Net Profit Margin: Increased from 38.28% to 38.70%, pointing to improved expectations for profitability.
  • Future P/E: Declined from 19.80x to 19.17x, indicating a modest reduction in forward earnings valuation.

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.
What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
  • 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 Earnings and Revenue Growth

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

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.

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