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What's in Store for Agenus (AGEN) This Earnings Season?
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Agenus Inc. (AGEN - Free Report) is expected to report fourth-quarter 2017 on Mar 8. In the last quarter, the company’s earnings met estimates. In the last four quarters the company delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 15.99%.
Notably, Agenus’ shares have outperformed the industry over a year. The stock has rallied 3.6%, as against the industry’s fall of 2.8%.
Let’s see how things are shaping up for the company this quarter.
Factors at Play
Agenus’ collaboration agreements with several companies, not only help it to procure funds in the form of upfront and milestone payments and future royalties, but also validate its proprietary product platform. Agenus has collaborated with Merck (MRK - Free Report) and Incyte to discover and develop multiple checkpoint antibodies.
Under the Incyte collaboration, Agenus is evaluating the latter’s anti-GITR checkpoint antibody —INCAGN1876 — in a phase I/II study, its anti-OX40 agonist antibody — INCAGN1949 — in a phase I/II study and its anti-CTLA-4 antibody — AGEN1884 — in a phase I study. All the three candidates are being evaluated for the treatment of solid tumors. In January 2018, the company announced the launch of its combination phase I/II study with AGEN1884 and anti-PD1 (AGEN2034) antibodies.
In October 2017, Agenus established a separate business entity to advance its cell therapy program which is designed to be self-funded. The cell therapy company, AgenTus, will focus on the discovery, development, and commercialization of breakthrough “living drugs” to advance cures for cancer patients. The company took this decision to form smaller teams that can entirely focus on getting the products approved. The company expects the combined value of the separate companies to exceed the perceived value under one roof.
In October 2017, the FDA granted marketing authorization to GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) herpes zoster vaccine, Shingrix, containing Agenus' proprietary immune adjuvant QS-21 Stimulon. Shingrix is indicated for prevention of herpes zoster (also known as shingles) in adults aged 50 years and older. In the same month, Health Canada also granted marketing authorization to Shingrix. The approval in Canada marks the first approval for Shingrix and the first approval of a vaccine containing QS-21 Stimulon. This is a good news for Agenus and can impact its business positively as it has the potential to significantly increase the market share for Shingrix.
In the fourth quarter the company will focus on its pipeline candidates and provide updates on them.
What Our Model Indicates
Our proven model does not conclusively show an earnings beat for Agenusthis quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) — for this to happen. However, that is not the case here as you will see below.
Zacks ESP: Agenushas an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at a loss of 28 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Agenus has a Zacks Rank #3, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings beat.
Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into an earnings announcement.
Here are some health care stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to deliver an earnings beat this quarter.
Gemphire Therapeutics is expected to releasefourth-quarter 2017 results on Mar 21. The company has an Earnings ESP of +6.62% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
Image: Bigstock
What's in Store for Agenus (AGEN) This Earnings Season?
Agenus Inc. (AGEN - Free Report) is expected to report fourth-quarter 2017 on Mar 8.
In the last quarter, the company’s earnings met estimates. In the last four quarters the company delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 15.99%.
Notably, Agenus’ shares have outperformed the industry over a year. The stock has rallied 3.6%, as against the industry’s fall of 2.8%.
Let’s see how things are shaping up for the company this quarter.
Factors at Play
Agenus’ collaboration agreements with several companies, not only help it to procure funds in the form of upfront and milestone payments and future royalties, but also validate its proprietary product platform. Agenus has collaborated with Merck (MRK - Free Report) and Incyte to discover and develop multiple checkpoint antibodies.
Under the Incyte collaboration, Agenus is evaluating the latter’s anti-GITR checkpoint antibody —INCAGN1876 — in a phase I/II study, its anti-OX40 agonist antibody — INCAGN1949 — in a phase I/II study and its anti-CTLA-4 antibody — AGEN1884 — in a phase I study. All the three candidates are being evaluated for the treatment of solid tumors. In January 2018, the company announced the launch of its combination phase I/II study with AGEN1884 and anti-PD1 (AGEN2034) antibodies.
In October 2017, Agenus established a separate business entity to advance its cell therapy program which is designed to be self-funded. The cell therapy company, AgenTus, will focus on the discovery, development, and commercialization of breakthrough “living drugs” to advance cures for cancer patients. The company took this decision to form smaller teams that can entirely focus on getting the products approved. The company expects the combined value of the separate companies to exceed the perceived value under one roof.
In October 2017, the FDA granted marketing authorization to GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) herpes zoster vaccine, Shingrix, containing Agenus' proprietary immune adjuvant QS-21 Stimulon. Shingrix is indicated for prevention of herpes zoster (also known as shingles) in adults aged 50 years and older. In the same month, Health Canada also granted marketing authorization to Shingrix. The approval in Canada marks the first approval for Shingrix and the first approval of a vaccine containing QS-21 Stimulon. This is a good news for Agenus and can impact its business positively as it has the potential to significantly increase the market share for Shingrix.
In the fourth quarter the company will focus on its pipeline candidates and provide updates on them.
What Our Model Indicates
Our proven model does not conclusively show an earnings beat for Agenusthis quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both — a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) — for this to happen. However, that is not the case here as you will see below.
Zacks ESP: Agenushas an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at a loss of 28 cents. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Agenus has a Zacks Rank #3, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings beat.
Note that we caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) going into an earnings announcement.
Agenus Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Agenus Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Agenus Inc. Quote
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some health care stocks that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to deliver an earnings beat this quarter.
Exelixis (EXEL - Free Report) is scheduled to release fourth-quarter 2017 results on Feb 26, after the market closes. The company has an Earnings ESP of +8.94% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Gemphire Therapeutics is expected to releasefourth-quarter 2017 results on Mar 21. The company has an Earnings ESP of +6.62% and a Zacks Rank #2.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +18.8% from 2016 - Q1 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +157.0%, +128.0%, +97.8%, +94.7%, and +90.2% respectively.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - Q1 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 11X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>