Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:FURX)

pchop123 (76.68) Submitted: 6/6/2013 3:54:47 PM : Start Price: $35.23 FURX Score: +1.91

upside next

zzlangerhans (99.74) Submitted: 4/30/2013 7:20:30 PM : Start Price: $33.63 FURX Score: +4.64

As a counterpoint to Lexicon and their billion dollar market cap at a share price of 2, I present Furiex with a market cap of only 337M despite a share price of 33.7. Which of these stocks is the cheap one? If you aren't new to the game, you know to ignore the share price and focus on the cap. Nevertheless, I suspect Lexicon attracts buyers who see it as cheap and Furiex scares traders who think the share price indicates a mid-cap stock.

Furiex stock has receded sharply from the high of 42 seen a couple of months after the FDA approved alogliptin, although I'm not sure if there's any valid basis for pessimism. The balance sheet isn't pretty but the picture will improve with the next earnings statement showing the 25M milestone received from Takeda in February. The company has a respectable revenue stream from Nesina (alogliptin in Japan) and the premature ejaculation drug Priligy in Europe, and an EU decision on alogliptin is expected in H2 2013. There may also be run-up pressure related to the ongoing phase III trials of MuDelta (eluxadoline) for IBS with topline data expected in early 2014.

There are certainly questions related to the commercial potential of alogliptin and possible cardiovascular concerns with mu opioid receptor agonists, but Furiex is definitely appearing cheap against the current backdrop of inflated biopharma valuations. If the current share price decline stabilizes, there's a strong possibility Furiex will join my portfolio.

jkb31 (< 20) Submitted: 1/9/2012 4:26:09 PM : Start Price: $16.21 FURX Score: +97.28

Insider Buying and Insider Buying and Insider Buying ... all since November.

liverless (< 20) Submitted: 10/3/2010 6:58:18 PM : Start Price: $11.15 FURX Score: +182.67

Spin-off of PPDI. Small cap spin-offs of larger cap companies often create selling by funds that can't hold them and stock don't reflect underlying value. Cash on hand is $10/share. Drug pipeline was valued before spinoff at $26/share. Upcoming catalysts begin in 2011 when drugs hit regulatory milestones. One or more successes and the stock should fly.

jsgant13 (99.09) Submitted: 9/1/2010 2:54:55 PM : Start Price: $9.97 FURX Score: +213.15

following the spinoff

MotleyFoolster (98.35) Submitted: 8/20/2010 12:35:39 AM : Start Price: $9.93 FURX Score: +213.72

greenbackd, cash on balance sheet close to market cap