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bluebird bio (BLUE)
NASDAQ:BLUE

Bluebird Bio (BLUE) AI Stock Analysis

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Bluebird Bio

(NASDAQ:BLUE)

40Underperform
Bluebird Bio's overall score reflects significant financial challenges, including unprofitable operations and negative equity. While technical analysis shows short-term momentum, long-term trends are less favorable. The negative P/E ratio underscores valuation concerns, and the lack of a dividend yield makes it less attractive for income investors.
Positive Factors
Operational Efficiency
Cost reduction efforts should reduce operating expenses by 20% and allow for break-even to be achieved, improving financial health.
Privatization Benefits
The announced privatization of the company is expected to be completed, potentially leading to a positive restructuring impact.
Sales Growth Potential
The company's portfolio is expected to reach over $600 million in annual sales, indicating substantial future growth opportunities.
Negative Factors
Financial Concerns
Bluebird was reaching the end of its cash runway, raising concerns about achieving near-term profitability and loan covenant defaults.
Market Confidence
The company has been moved to a Neutral rating from Underweight, reflecting less confidence in its market performance.
Revenue Decline
3Q24 revenue of $10.6mm was below the expected $21.1mm and continues to decline sequentially, indicating financial pressure.

Bluebird Bio (BLUE) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Bluebird Bio Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBluebird Bio, Inc. (BLUE) is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of gene therapies for severe genetic diseases and cancer. The company focuses on developing therapies that address the underlying genetic causes of these conditions, primarily through the use of lentiviral-based gene therapies. Bluebird Bio's core products are designed to treat conditions such as beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.
How the Company Makes MoneyBluebird Bio makes money through the development and commercialization of its gene therapy products. Revenue streams primarily include sales from its approved gene therapies and collaborative agreements with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The company generates income by selling its therapies to healthcare providers and through milestone payments and royalties from partnerships with other organizations focused on developing and commercializing gene therapy solutions. Significant factors contributing to its earnings include regulatory approvals, successful clinical trial outcomes, and the establishment of strategic partnerships to expand the reach and application of its therapies.

Bluebird Bio Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Bluebird Bio faces significant financial challenges with unprofitable operations, negative equity, and continuous cash burn. Although revenue has seen a recent uptick, the company must address its operational inefficiencies and improve cash flow management to stabilize its financial position.
Income Statement
25
Negative
Bluebird Bio's revenue has shown significant volatility, with a recent increase to $103.9 million TTM. However, the company remains unprofitable with a net loss of $199.98 million TTM. The gross profit margin is positive but narrow at 27.1%, while the EBIT and EBITDA margins are heavily negative, indicating operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
15
Very Negative
The company's balance sheet is concerning, with negative stockholders' equity at -$57.87 million TTM, leading to a negative equity ratio. The debt-to-equity ratio cannot be calculated due to negative equity, highlighting financial instability. Total assets have been declining, indicating asset shrinkage.
Cash Flow
20
Very Negative
Operating cash flow remains deeply negative at -$228.79 million TTM. While free cash flow improved slightly, it is still negative, reflecting ongoing cash burn. The ratios of operating cash flow and free cash flow to net income are unhelpful due to negative figures, signaling cash flow management issues.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
103.95M83.81M29.50M3.60M3.66M250.73M
Gross Profit
28.19M-5.57M-4.03M-6.48M-35.20M245.34M
EBIT
-216.38M-270.46M-244.26M-287.09M-590.91M-629.51M
EBITDA
-132.74M-156.82M-167.16M-215.56M-556.93M-553.63M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-199.98M-240.72M-211.91M-266.58M-562.64M-618.70M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
78.74M62.30M221.75M181.74M396.62M1.27B
Total Assets
295.96M460.23M619.16M554.90M593.79M1.78B
Total Debt
115.46M358.24M330.33M281.39M89.58M193.02M
Net Debt
36.71M295.93M108.57M168.38M-71.58M-124.68M
Total Liabilities
353.82M491.77M424.62M358.56M219.52M426.20M
Stockholders Equity
-57.87M-31.53M194.54M196.34M374.28M1.36B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-230.47M-262.62M-244.10M-366.16M-658.64M-499.34M
Operating Cash Flow
-228.79M-260.02M-235.05M-352.95M-635.64M-470.35M
Investing Cash Flow
7.65M3.90M154.95M250.45M562.56M-84.34M
Financing Cash Flow
49.53M87.47M196.25M54.25M-93.95M546.72M

Bluebird Bio Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price4.98
Price Trends
50DMA
4.23
Positive
100DMA
5.58
Negative
200DMA
8.20
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.07
Negative
RSI
63.66
Neutral
STOCH
99.07
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BLUE, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 4.98 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4.12, above the 50-day MA of 4.23, and below the 200-day MA of 8.20, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 99.07 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for BLUE.

Bluebird Bio Risk Analysis

Bluebird Bio disclosed 66 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Bluebird Bio reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Bluebird Bio Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (52)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
62
Neutral
$52.00M2.40-50.81%-11.11%79.74%
53
Neutral
$57.47M-71.64%-98.90%-177.17%
52
Neutral
$5.19B3.04-44.64%2.82%16.45%-0.53%
41
Neutral
$44.69M-30.49%-100.00%37.59%
40
Underperform
$48.67M-546.55%127.51%56.94%
27
Underperform
$58.37M-55.83%59.75%
27
Underperform
$54.70M-102.48%-7.78%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BLUE
Bluebird Bio
4.98
-14.95
-75.01%
ACET
Adicet Bio
0.70
-0.91
-56.52%
DTIL
Precision BioSciences
4.69
-8.36
-64.06%
RPTX
Repare Therapeutics
1.38
-2.02
-59.41%
IKNA
Ikena Oncology
1.11
-0.27
-19.57%
IMRX
Immuneering
1.52
-0.02
-1.30%

Bluebird Bio Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q3-2024)
|
% Change Since: 29.69%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong patient start growth, successful cost reduction efforts, and promising reimbursement pathways. However, these positives were countered by a decrease in quarterly revenue, cash resource challenges, and pending shareholder approvals, creating a balanced outlook.
Q3-2024 Updates
Positive Updates
Significant Increase in Patient Starts
Patient starts have more than doubled from 27 to 57 since Q2 2024, with 74 patient starts completed or scheduled for 2024 and 30 more scheduled for 2025.
Successful Reduction in Cash Operating Expenses
Implemented steps to reduce cash operating expenses by 20% in Q3 2025.
Strong Manufacturing Capacity and Future Expansion Plans
Current manufacturing capacity is adequate to meet projections with plans to double LYFGENIA capacity in 2026.
Encouraging Reimbursement and Access Pathways
Over half of U.S. states have affirmed coverage for LYFGENIA, and no ultimate denials have been recorded across Medicaid and commercial payers.
Negative Updates
Decrease in Quarterly Revenue
Q3 2024 revenue was $10.6 million, down from $16.1 million in Q2, attributed to variations in manufacturing timelines.
Cash Resource Challenges
Existing cash and cash equivalents are expected to fund operations only into Q1 2025, necessitating additional financing.
Pending Shareholder Approval for Reverse Stock Split
Adjourned shareholder meeting to obtain approval for a reverse stock split to comply with NASDAQ requirements and increase share authorization.
Company Guidance
During bluebird bio's third-quarter 2024 earnings call, the company provided optimistic guidance, highlighting a doubling of patient starts from 27 to 57 since the previous quarter and a total of 74 starts for the year. They emphasized plans to reduce cash operating expenses by 20% starting in Q3 2025, paving the way for financial stability and cash flow breakeven in the second half of the year. The company reported $10.6 million in Q3 revenue, down from $16.1 million in Q2, but projected a rebound to at least $25 million in Q4. Manufacturing capacity is deemed sufficient to meet the goal of 40 drug product deliveries per quarter by late 2025, supported by a robust Qualified Treatment Center (QTC) network. As of September 30, 2024, bluebird bio held $118.7 million in cash, including $48 million in restricted cash, and is focusing on extending its runway through additional financing and cost-saving initiatives.

Bluebird Bio Corporate Events

M&A Transactions
Bluebird Bio Amends Merger Agreement with Carlyle
Neutral
May 14, 2025

On May 13, 2025, bluebird bio, Inc. amended its merger agreement with Carlyle and SK Capital Partners, offering stockholders a choice between $3.00 per share plus a contingent value right (CVR) of $6.84 or a revised offer of $5.00 per share. The bluebird board of directors recommends stockholders tender their shares to avoid potential financial risks, including defaulting on loan agreements with Hercules Capital. The tender offer deadline has been extended to May 29, 2025, with approximately 2,281,724 shares already tendered.

The most recent analyst rating on (BLUE) stock is a Hold with a $10.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Bluebird Bio stock, see the BLUE Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on BLUE Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, BLUE is a Underperform.

Bluebird Bio’s stock is facing significant challenges primarily due to its weak financial performance, which is reflected in negative profitability and a precarious balance sheet. Technical indicators also suggest a bearish trend, while the negative P/E ratio highlights valuation difficulties. These factors combine to present a high-risk profile for the stock with limited near-term upside potential.

To see Spark’s full report on BLUE stock, click here.

Business Operations and Strategy
Bluebird Bio Ends Sublease Agreement with Meta and Aventis
Neutral
Feb 20, 2025

On February 13, 2025, Bluebird Bio and its partners, Aventis Inc. and Meta Platforms, agreed to terminate Bluebird Bio’s sublease and Meta’s sub-sublease of office space in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following this termination, Meta will sublease the space directly from Aventis, while Bluebird Bio, which does not occupy the space, has no further involvement.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.