A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Kite Pharma, Inc. KITE. Shares have added about 6.3% in that time frame, outperforming the market.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Kite Pharma Posts Q1 Loss

Kite Pharma reported a loss of $1.74 per share in the first quarter of 2017, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.68 per share as well as the year-ago loss of $0.90 per share.

First-quarter revenues came in at $9.84 million, below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $15.30 million but up almost 92% from the year-ago period. In the quarter, the company recognized $5.5 million under the Amgen deal and $4.2 million under the Daiichi Sankyo agreement.

While Kite Pharma’s research and development expenses shot up 91.5% from the year-ago period to $65.9 million in the reported quarter, general and administrative expenses were $35.8 million, up 114.5% from the year-ago period.

Kite Pharma ended the year with $804.0 million in cash and marketable securities compared with $414 million at the end of the fourth quarter last year. The increase was due to $409.7 million received from a follow-on offering of common stock and $50 million in upfront payment from Daiichi Sankyo.

2017 Guidance

Net cash burn in 2017 is expected to be between $325 million and $340 million.

Operating expenses are expected to be between $490 million and $515 million in 2017.

The company does not expect to generate any product revenues from axicabtagene ciloleucel in 2017.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

Analysts were quiet during the last one month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.

Kite Pharma, Inc. Price and Consensus

 

Kite Pharma, Inc. Price and Consensus | Kite Pharma, Inc. Quote

VGM Scores

At this time, Kite's stock has a poor Growth Score of 'F', a grade with the same score on the momentum front. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of 'F' on the value side, putting it in the fifth quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall,  the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'F'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Our style scores indicate investors will probably be better served looking elsewhere.