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Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 2609%
Weak multi-year price returns
3Y Excs Rtn is -12%
Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -573 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -657%
1 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -69%
Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%
Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 76x
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine, and Aging Population & Chronic Disease. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, Targeted Therapies, Show more.
  Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -496%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -520%
3   Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -16%
0 Strong revenue growth
Rev Chg LTMRevenue Change % Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 2609%
1 Valuation becoming less expensive
P/S 6M Chg %Price/Sales change over 6 months. Declining P/S indicates valuation has become less expensive. is -69%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine, and Aging Population & Chronic Disease. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, Targeted Therapies, Show more.
3 Weak multi-year price returns
3Y Excs Rtn is -12%
4 Meaningful short interest
Short Interest % of Basic SharesShort Interest % of Basic Shares = (Short Interest Quantity) / (Basic Shares Outstanding). A high fraction of short interest can indicate potential risk of a short squeeze. is 12%
5 Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -573 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -657%
6 Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 76x
7 Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -496%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -520%
8 Yield minus risk free rate is negative
ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is -16%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

CYTK Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Cytokinetics (CYTK) experienced significant stock appreciation from late August 2025 to early December 2025 due to several key developments: 1. Successful Clinical Trial Results for Aficamten. On September 3, 2025, Cytokinetics' shares surged by 40.5% following the announcement of successful clinical trial results for its heart disease drug, aficamten. The company's Third Quarter 2025 financial results on November 5, 2025, further reinforced this, highlighting positive data from the MAPLE-HCM trial, which demonstrated aficamten's superiority over metoprolol in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM), showing improved exercise capacity and symptom relief.

2. Significant Progress Towards FDA Approval and Commercialization of Aficamten. Cytokinetics reported on November 5, 2025, that it was actively engaged with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), progressing towards a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of December 26, 2025, for aficamten. Preparations for a U.S. commercial launch were also well underway. The company had a Late Cycle Meeting with the FDA on September 15, 2025, to discuss the New Drug Application (NDA) for aficamten, including its proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
CYTK Return96%119%1%82%-44%35%499%
Peers Return1%8%-9%4%-11%9%-0%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
CYTK Win Rate67%58%58%58%25%60% 
Peers Win Rate42%48%50%55%43%48% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
CYTK Max Drawdown-18%-11%-35%-41%-44%-37% 
Peers Max Drawdown-30%-10%-23%-19%-26%-19% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: ACT, ALKS, LIVN, PRGO, PCRX. See CYTK Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventCYTKS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-50.7%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven102.8%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven85 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-47.3%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven89.8%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven284 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-65.2%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven187.6%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven504 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-83.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven493.1%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven4904 days1480 days

Compare to ACT, ALKS, LIVN, PRGO, PCRX


In The Past

Cytokinetics's stock fell -50.7% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 9/9/2022. A -50.7% loss requires a 102.8% gain to breakeven.

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About Cytokinetics (CYTK)

Better Bets than Cytokinetics (CYTK)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to CYTK. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CRL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025CRLCharles River Laboratories InternationalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
4.1%4.1%-3.7%
GDRX_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11142025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-9.8%-9.8%-11.8%
ASTH_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025ASTHAstrana HealthDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
6.0%6.0%-5.5%
SGRY_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025SGRYSurgery PartnersDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
9.7%9.7%-1.4%
TFX_11072025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11072025TFXTeleflexDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.2%6.2%-5.1%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CRL_11142025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11142025CRLCharles River Laboratories InternationalDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
4.1%4.1%-3.7%
GDRX_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_CFO_Margins_ExInd_DE11142025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | CFO/Rev | Low D/EDip Buy with High Cash Flow Margins
Buying dips for companies with significant cash flows from operations and reasonable debt / market cap
-9.8%-9.8%-11.8%
ASTH_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025ASTHAstrana HealthDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
6.0%6.0%-5.5%
SGRY_11142025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11142025SGRYSurgery PartnersDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
9.7%9.7%-1.4%
TFX_11072025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11072025TFXTeleflexDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
6.2%6.2%-5.1%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Cytokinetics

Peers to compare with:

Financials

CYTKACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameCytokine.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Mkt Price64.6638.6129.5363.2913.9624.1934.07
Mkt Cap7.85.74.93.51.91.14.2
Rev LTM871,2251,5211,3494,2827171,287
Op Inc LTM-573-35919439360194
FCF LTM-453704491191271124231
FCF 3Y Avg-434672353103235149192
CFO LTM-433704541251376141313
CFO 3Y Avg-425672397150339165252

Growth & Margins

CYTKACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameCytokine.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Rev Chg LTM2,609.3%2.4%1.1%8.6%-2.5%3.1%2.8%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg818.6%3.9%12.1%9.9%-0.8%3.1%6.9%
Rev Chg Q318.1%0.6%4.2%12.5%-4.1%6.5%5.4%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM1.7%0.2%1.1%3.0%-1.0%1.6%1.3%
Op Mgn LTM-656.9%-23.6%14.4%9.2%8.4%9.2%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-7,766.4%-24.7%8.3%6.5%11.1%8.3%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-19.0%--1.3%1.0%-0.4%-1.4%-1.3%
CFO/Rev LTM-496.4%57.5%35.6%18.6%8.8%19.7%19.2%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg-6,222.9%56.6%25.9%11.6%7.6%23.8%17.7%
FCF/Rev LTM-519.9%57.5%32.3%14.2%6.3%17.3%15.8%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-6,258.2%56.6%23.1%7.9%5.3%21.6%14.7%

Valuation

CYTKACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameCytokine.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
Mkt Cap7.85.74.93.51.91.14.2
P/S75.64.63.32.10.71.62.7
P/EBIT-10.16.312.2-20.811.619.99.0
P/E-8.88.614.6-13.2-59.552.9-0.1
P/CFO-15.28.09.211.48.28.08.1
Total Yield-11.4%13.8%6.8%-7.6%-0.4%1.9%0.8%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.1%0.0%0.0%1.3%0.0%0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-9.7%12.9%7.4%3.6%6.5%16.0%7.0%
D/E0.20.10.00.21.20.40.2
Net D/E0.0-0.3-0.2-0.11.00.2-0.0

Returns

CYTKACTALKSLIVNPRGOPCRXMedian
NameCytokine.Enact Alkermes LivaNova Perrigo Pacira B. 
1M Rtn7.7%8.1%-2.1%20.4%-30.5%9.0%7.9%
3M Rtn29.3%2.8%-1.6%11.8%-38.8%-11.0%0.6%
6M Rtn99.5%12.7%-6.4%42.3%-45.0%-10.3%3.2%
12M Rtn25.5%11.7%0.2%22.6%-48.1%45.0%17.1%
3Y Rtn59.7%71.4%21.8%13.6%-50.4%-48.8%17.7%
1M Excs Rtn7.7%8.2%-2.1%20.4%-30.5%9.0%8.0%
3M Excs Rtn24.6%-4.2%-3.2%3.5%-44.1%-14.8%-3.7%
6M Excs Rtn84.8%-2.0%-21.1%27.6%-59.7%-25.1%-11.6%
12M Excs Rtn11.1%-1.4%-11.8%7.0%-61.9%29.5%2.8%
3Y Excs Rtn-11.5%1.3%-40.3%-52.0%-122.8%-123.4%-46.1%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Single segment8    
Collaboration revenue 7111727
License revenues 05537 
Milestone revenues 153 
Realization of revenue participation right purchase agreement 87   
Total895705627


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity14,382,900
Short Interest: % Change Since 103120254.3%
Average Daily Volume1,946,832
Days-to-Cover Short Interest7.39
Basic Shares Quantity119,982,000
Short % of Basic Shares12.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251105202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025807202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025506202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024227202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024809202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024510202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023228202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231103202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023505202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022301202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221104202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022805202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022506202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021225202210-K 12/31/2021

Insider Activity

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 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0PARSHALL B LYNNE 11192025Sell64.735,000323,6501,484,453Form