We expect investors to focus on updates on
Allakos
’
ALLK
progress of its lead pipeline candidate, lirentelimab (AK002), when it reports fourth-quarter 2021 results.
The company’s earnings missed expectations in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average negative surprise being 9.8%. In the last reported quarter, Allakos delivered a negative earnings surprise of 3.6%.
In the trailing 12 months, shares of Allakos have plunged 95.4% compared with the
industry
’s 39.6% decline.
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Let’s see how things have shaped up for the quarter to be reported.
Factors to Consider
Allakos currently does not have any approved product in its portfolio. As a result, the company is yet to generate revenues from product sales.
ALLK’s lead pipeline candidate lirentelimab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that targets diseases driven by mast cells and eosinophils. We note that the candidate is primarily being evaluated for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGID).
In December 2021, Allakos announced top-line data from two separate studies — a phase III ENIGMA 2 study evaluating lirentelimab in patients with eosinophilic gastritis and/or eosinophilic duodenitis and another phase II/III KRYPTOS study evaluating the candidate in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. Although both ENIGMA 2 and KRYPTOS studies achieved their histologic co-primary endpoints, neither of them achieved statistical significance in their symptomatic co-primary endpoints.
This was a major setback for the company as the lead indication for the drug is EGID indications. We note that other than lirentelimab, Allakos lacks pipeline candidates in clinical development. ALLK is currently analyzing data from the ENIGMA 2 and KRYPTOS studies to determine the next steps for the candidate in EGID indications.
Nonetheless, Allakos announced the expansion of the clinical development of lirentelimab in non-EGID indications last November. The expansion was based on the clinical activity demonstrated by the candidate in other indications.
ALLK has already initiated a phase II study evaluating the antibody in adult patients having moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. In mid-2022, the company plans to initiate a phase II/III study evaluating lirentelimab in chronic spontaneous urticaria. A phase II study evaluating the candidate in asthma is also being planned to begin in fourth-quarter 2022. Apart from these indications, ALLK is also planning to evaluate lirentelimab in additional indications in the next year.
Earnings Whispers
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Allakos this time around. The combination of a positive
Earnings ESP
and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. Unfortunately, that is not the case here as you will see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our
Earnings ESP Filter
.
Earnings ESP:
The company has an Earnings ESP of -28.87% as the Most Accurate Estimate of a loss of $1.73 per share is wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.34.
Zacks Rank:
Allakos currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can
see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here
.
Stocks to Consider
Here are a few stocks you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Epizyme
EPZM
has an Earnings ESP of +6.17% as the Most Accurate Estimate of a loss of 38 cents per share is narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 41 cents. Epizymecurrently holds a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Epizyme’s loss per share estimates for 2022 have narrowed from $1.74 to $1.65 in the past 30 days. Epizyme missed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a negative surprise of 20.2%, on average.
Evelo Biosciences
EVLO
has an Earnings ESP of +12.79% as the Most Accurate Estimate of a loss of 50 cents per share is narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 57 cents. Evelo Biosciencescurrently carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
Evelo Biosciences’ loss per share estimates for 2022 have narrowed from $2.19 to $2.12 in the past 30 days. Evelo Biosciences missed earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a negative surprise of 13.2%, on average.
Moderna
MRNA
has an Earnings ESP of +1.90% as the Most Accurate Estimate of $10.02 per share is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.83. Moderna currently has a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
In the past 30 days, earnings per share estimates of Moderna for 2022 have increased from $25.98 to $26.98 in the past 30 days. In fact, Moderna topped earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed the mark on the other two occasions, delivering a negative surprise of 35.8%, on average.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the
Zacks Earnings Calendar
.
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