NASDAQ$LGND
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated · Q3 2025 earnings
Q3 2025 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations
Briefing
Ligand reported a sharp rise in revenue and profitability in Q3 2025, driven by strong royalty income, a significant out-license deal, and a gain on a business sale.
Ligand’s Q3 2025 results showed a dramatic increase in total revenue and profitability, boosted by a $28.6M gain on the sale of its Pelthos business and a $24.5M out-license of Zelsuvmi. Royalties and Captisol sales also improved year-over-year.
- Total revenue surged to $115.5M from $51.8M in Q3 2024, up 123%
- GAAP net income was $117.3M versus a net loss of $7.2M last year
- Adjusted EPS reached $3.09, nearly doubling from $1.84 in Q3 2024
- Cash and short-term investments increased to $664.5M
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
Ligand · Revenue · Quarterly
$115M
Revenue by segment
Ligand · $23.9M total across 1 segment · Q3 2023
- Royalties$23.9M+20.3%100.0%
Forward guidance
Ligand raised full-year 2025 revenue guidance to $225–$235M and adjusted EPS to $7.40–$7.65, reflecting stronger performance in royalties, contract revenue, and Captisol sales.
Tailwinds
- 2025 revenue guidance raised to $225M–$235M from $200M–$225M
- Adjusted EPS guidance increased to $7.40–$7.65 from $6.70–$7.00
- Royalty revenue expected to reach $147M–$157M
- Captisol sales outlook raised to $40M from previous $35M–$40M
- Core contract revenue guided at $38M, up from $25M–$35M
Headwinds
- R&D expenses increased due to funding obligations (e.g., Orchestra BioMed)
- Higher G&A expenses from Pelthos-related transaction costs
- No specific revenue outlook for Zelsuvmi despite licensing gain
- Some EPS gains were non-recurring (e.g., Pelthos sale)
- Equity investment valuations may introduce future volatility
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 19 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q3 2025
+0.1%
Avg return
Earnings day
+2.0%
Avg return
5 days after
-0.8%
Avg return
30 days after
52%
33 / 64 earnings
Positive
+18.7%
Q4 2013
Best reaction
-21.6%
Q3 2011
Worst reaction
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | +5.3% | +5.0% | — | |
| Q4 2025 | +2.6% | +6.7% | +2.1% | |
| Q3 2025 | +9.3% | +9.6% | -2.9% | |
| Q1 2025 | -3.2% | +0.0% | +0.4% | |
| Q4 2024 | +0.6% | +0.2% | -6.4% | |
| Q3 2024 | +3.7% | +3.3% | +6.8% | |
| Q2 2024 | -4.9% | +2.1% | +5.1% | |
| Q1 2024 | +10.3% | +19.8% | +13.1% | |
| Q4 2023 | +13.3% | +5.8% | -1.8% | |
| Q3 2023 | +2.8% | +3.8% | +16.3% | |
| Q2 2023 | +6.7% | +1.4% | -4.2% | |
| Q1 2023 | +5.2% | +3.2% | -0.2% | |
| Q4 2022 | +5.9% | +3.0% | -2.1% | |
| Q3 2022 | +12.8% | +31.3% | +6.0% | |
| Q2 2022 | +5.7% | +9.5% | -3.5% | |
| Q1 2022 | -2.9% | -13.0% | -9.1% | |
| Q4 2021 | -16.3% | -19.7% | -8.7% | |
| Q3 2021 | +7.8% | +4.9% | -6.9% | |
| Q2 2021 | -8.1% | -10.0% | -7.4% | |
| Q1 2021 | -9.5% | -10.5% | -22.3% | |
| Q4 2020 | +1.7% | +17.6% | -18.5% | |
| Q3 2020 | -0.2% | +5.4% | +3.4% | |
| Q2 2020 | +0.6% | +0.4% | -11.9% | |
| Q1 2020 | +3.2% | +6.8% | +22.1% | |
| Q4 2019 | +3.3% | +2.8% | +16.7% | |
| Q3 2019 | -7.4% | -1.4% | -4.9% | |
| Q2 2019 | -14.8% | -11.5% | -14.7% | |
| Q1 2019 | -3.3% | -4.1% | -14.6% | |
| Q4 2018 | -2.7% | +1.8% | -10.0% | |
| Q3 2018 | -2.7% | -8.9% | -10.7% | |
| Q2 2018 | +9.8% | +7.7% | +13.0% | |
| Q1 2018 | +7.3% | +13.2% | +26.4% | |
| Q4 2017 | +0.0% | -1.9% | +3.7% | |
| Q3 2017 | -4.9% | -1.3% | -8.4% | |
| Q2 2017 | +5.7% | +2.5% | +9.4% | |
| Q1 2017 | -2.9% | +0.2% | +1.2% | |
| Q4 2016 | -2.8% | +1.3% | +1.5% | |
| Q3 2016 | -2.7% | +3.1% | +10.8% | |
| Q2 2016 | -7.4% | -13.2% | -20.2% | |
| Q1 2016 | -1.4% | — | — | |
| Q4 2015 | -4.2% | — | — | |
| Q3 2015 | +5.1% | — | — | |
| Q2 2015 | +2.3% | — | — | |
| Q1 2015 | +4.5% | — | — | |
| Q4 2014 | +2.3% | — | — | |
| Q3 2014 | -3.9% | — | — | |
| Q2 2014 | +7.7% | — | — | |
| Q1 2014 | -2.9% | — | — | |
| Q4 2013 | +18.7% | — | — | |
| Q3 2013 | -10.7% | — | — | |
| Q2 2013 | -1.7% | — | — | |
| Q1 2013 | +1.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2012 | +7.4% | — | — | |
| Q3 2012 | +10.8% | — | — | |
| Q2 2012 | -8.8% | — | — | |
| Q4 2011 | -8.8% | — | — | |
| Q1 2012 | +1.3% | — | — | |
| Q3 2011 | -21.6% | — | — | |
| Q2 2011 | -6.5% | — | — | |
| Q1 2011 | +0.9% | — | — | |
| Q4 2010 | -0.3% | — | — | |
| Q3 2010 | -2.4% | — | — | |
| Q2 2010 | -3.6% | — | — | |
| Q1 2010 | -9.6% | — | — |
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