Did You Manage To Avoid Autolus Therapeutics's (NASDAQ:AUTL) 26% Share Price Drop?
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It's easy to match the overall market return by buying an index fund. While individual stocks can be big winners, plenty more fail to generate satisfactory returns. Investors in Autolus Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ:AUTL) have tasted that bitter downside in the last year, as the share price dropped 26%. That's well bellow the market return of 7.0%. We wouldn't rush to judgement on Autolus Therapeutics because we don't have a long term history to look at. In the last ninety days we've seen the share price slide 37%.
View our latest analysis for Autolus Therapeutics
We don't think Autolus Therapeutics's revenue of US$2,722,000 is enough to establish significant demand. We can't help wondering why it's publicly listed so early in its journey. Are venture capitalists not interested? As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. For example, they may be hoping that Autolus Therapeutics comes up with a great new product, before it runs out of money.
As a general rule, if a company doesn't have much revenue, and it loses money, then it is a high risk investment. There is almost always a chance they will need to raise more capital, and their progress - and share price - will dictate how dilutive that is to current holders. While some such companies go on to make revenue, profits, and generate value, others get hyped up by hopeful naifs before eventually going bankrupt.
When it last reported its balance sheet in March 2019, Autolus Therapeutics had cash in excess of all liabilities of US$141m. While that's nothing to panic about, there is some possibility the company will raise more capital, especially if profits are not imminent. We'd venture that shareholders are concerned about the need for more capital, because the share price has dropped 26% in the last year. The image below shows how Autolus Therapeutics's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. The image below shows how Autolus Therapeutics's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image.
In reality it's hard to have much certainty when valuing a business that has neither revenue or profit. What if insiders are ditching the stock hand over fist? It would bother me, that's for sure. It costs nothing but a moment of your time to see if we are picking up on any insider selling.
A Different Perspective
While Autolus Therapeutics shareholders are down 26% for the year, the market itself is up 7.0%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. It's worth noting that the last three months did the real damage, with a 37% decline. So it seems like some holders have been dumping the stock of late - and that's not bullish. Shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
