RP
RECURSION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (RXRX)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q3 2025 revenue was $5.2M, sharply below prior year and Wall Street consensus, while EPS loss of $0.36 modestly beat estimates; EBITDA loss improved versus consensus due to expense control and milestone timing . Q3 consensus: Revenue $19.36M, EPS $(0.382), EBITDA $(163.4)M; actual: $5.18M, $(0.36), $(151.2)M respectively*.
- Management reaffirmed non-GAAP cash burn guidance of ≤$450M for 2025 and ≤$390M for 2026, and extended cash runway through YE 2027 with ~$785M cash as of Oct 9, aided by full utilization of the ATM program .
- Strategic progress: $30M Roche/Genentech microglia phenomap milestone (revenue recognition largely in Q4), REC-617 (CDK7) advanced into combinations; REC-7735 (PI3Kα H1047R) nominated as Development Candidate; additional FAP data (REC-4881) due in December .
- CEO transition announced: Najat Khan to become CEO effective Jan 1, 2026; Chris Gibson to Chair; messaging emphasized translating platform insights into repeatable clinical proof—potential re-rating catalyst as execution focus intensifies .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Roche/Genentech collaboration delivered a second whole-genome microglia phenomap, triggering a $30M milestone and bringing cumulative partnership inflows above $500M, underscoring platform value and non-dilutive funding capacity .
- Clinical pipeline execution: REC-617 achieved 10 mg QD MTD with manageable safety; one confirmed PR and five SD observed; combinations initiated in platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer—aligned with AI-enabled patient selection narrative .
- Cash runway extended to YE 2027 without additional financing; full ATM utilization reduced financing overhang and allows investors to focus on clinical and partnership catalysts per CFO .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue miss versus consensus due to milestone timing (microglia $30M achieved in October with partial recognition deferred to Q4), producing a lumpy topline and YoY decline (Q3’24 included a $30M neuronal map milestone) .
- Elevated R&D and G&A from Exscientia combination and data investments increased net loss YoY (Q3’25 net loss $162.3M vs $95.8M), highlighting ongoing burn ahead of clinical de-risking .
- Continued reliance on partnership milestones (no revenue guidance provided) and lack of near-term commercial revenue creates estimate volatility and complicates Street modeling; management reiterated focus on non-GAAP cash burn instead .
Financial Results
Revenue, EPS, EBITDA: last three quarters vs estimates
- Q3 highlights: Revenue missed consensus (bold miss), EPS beat consensus (bold beat), EBITDA beat consensus (bold beat).
- Significant beats/misses: Revenue miss vs consensus in Q3 (actual $5.2M vs $19.36M); EPS beat (actual $(0.36) vs $(0.382)); EBITDA beat (actual $(151.2)M vs $(163.4)M)*.
Note: Values with * retrieved from S&P Global.
YoY and QoQ snapshots
Revenue breakdown (collaboration vs grants)
KPIs and expenses
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We’ve achieved over $500 million in upfront and milestone payments… With a strong cash runway through the end of 2027, we look forward to delivering on our pipeline” — Chris Gibson (CEO) .
- “My focus … translating these platform insights into repeatable clinical proof … building a company that delivers sustainable value” — Najat Khan (incoming CEO) .
- CFO on revenue lumpiness: “We do not give guidance on revenue… timing of our milestones can impact how we recognize some of that revenue… microglia map milestone… recognized partially in the fourth quarter” — Ben Taylor .
Q&A Highlights
- Financing strategy and runway: ATM fully utilized; runway through YE 2027 without additional financing to refocus investor attention on fundamentals .
- Platform utilization across generations: Newer assets leverage full stack; older programs still benefit from ClinTech components; iterative learning emphasized .
- Partnerships: Deep, curated set; active exploration of new partners, but “choiceful” to ensure win‑win value .
- AI landscape: Management welcomed large‑cap entry (e.g., Lilly/NVIDIA), framing TechBio as the future of biopharma; Recursion positioned to lead .
- CEO priorities: Data-driven go/no-go, invest where Recursion has edge, capital stewardship .
Estimates Context
- Q3 2025 results vs S&P Global consensus: Revenue miss (actual $5.18M vs $19.36M*), EPS beat (actual $(0.36) vs $(0.382)), EBITDA beat (actual $(151.2)M vs $(163.4)M*). Prior quarters show similar lumpiness tied to milestone timing .
- Implications: Street revenue models likely to be revised lower near-term given milestone recognition shifted to Q4; EPS/EBITDA may modestly improve on expense control and mix. Note: Values with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Expect Q4 revenue uplift from partial recognition of the $30M Roche microglia milestone; near-term trading may hinge on December FAP (REC‑4881) data and ongoing CDK7 combination enrollment updates .
- Cash runway to YE 2027 and ATM completion reduce financing overhang; non-GAAP burn guidance maintained—watch execution on the ≤$450M/≤$390M targets as a credibility metric .
- Partnership flywheel is working; >$500M cumulative inflows validate platform; 2026 target of >$100M milestones provides non-dilutive optionality .
- Clinical catalysts: REC‑4881 (FAP) December update (potential path to pivotal discussion), REC‑617 combination data in 2027; REC‑7735/REC‑102 Phase 1 initiations targeted for 2H26 pending GLP tox—medium-term value drivers .
- Leadership transition to Najat Khan may sharpen execution and clinical proof orientation—monitor capital discipline and program go/no-go cadence .
- Given revenue lumpiness and lack of revenue guidance, anchor valuation on cash, partnerships, and clinical milestones rather than quarterly sales; positioning is levered to AI-enabled discovery and partner optionality .
- Tactical: Potential catalyst-driven trading around December FAP update and Q4 recognition of the Roche milestone; strategic: thesis depends on translating OS insights into repeatable clinical wins and sustained partner economics .
Note: S&P Global consensus and actuals marked with * were retrieved from S&P Global.