We recently compiled a list of the 12 Most Promising Biotech Stocks According to Wall Street Analysts. In this article, we are going to look at where Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLS) stands against other biotech stocks.

Biotech Sector Set for Growth Amid Innovation and Investor Interest

The biotechnology sector is gaining new momentum with better market conditions, cutting-edge innovations, and growing investor attention. The industry has recovered from a challenging 2024 and is poised for significant expansion led by advances in personalized medicine, AI-driven drug discovery, and growing demand for biologics. MarketsandMarkets predicted that the global biotech market would expand by a strong 13%, from $483.0 billion in 2024 to $546.0 billion in 2025. This expansion demonstrates the sector’s tenacity and promise for growth.

The anticipated shift in the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policies is a key driver of this upturn. Biotech is sensitive to changing rate patterns since it requires a large amount of money for costly R&D and clinical testing. Lower rates make more funding available, which helps biotech companies expand, draw in venture capital, and expedite drug development, according to Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News. A rate drop, according to analysts, may release billions of dollars in investment funds that have been put aside for fledgling biotech firms looking for steady funding.

Investor interest in biotech equities is growing. Biotech is still a high-growth industry with many chances for risk-takers, despite brief ups and downs. The comeback of biotech has been noted by leading investment banks. Citing solid fundamentals, improved clinical outcomes, and a supportive regulatory environment, Goldman Sachs referred to it as an “undervalued opportunity.” According to the firm, biotech equities have tremendous upside potential and an “option-like structure,” particularly when interest rates decline. Analysts at JPMorgan anticipate a recovery in biotech funding at the same time, pointing to indications of stability in manufacturing and research sectors that were negatively impacted by earlier funding shortages. Industry analysts predict that declining interest rates and advantageous investment circumstances may reopen the IPO window for businesses looking for institutional support, even though biotech IPOs have been quiet since 2021.

As gene editing, AI-powered drug discovery, and precision medicine transform how we treat uncommon genetic illnesses, autoimmune diseases, and cancer, scientific advances are also propelling the expansion of biotech. Biotech firms are meeting medical demands in ways that were unthinkable a decade ago because of developments in CRISPR gene editing and cell treatments. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best promising stocks from the biotech sector.

Our Methodology

For this article, we shortlisted stocks that met the following criteria: a market capitalization of over $2 billion, coverage by at least 15 analysts, and a price target upside of more than 20%. We then ranked the selected stocks based on their price target upside, as determined by Wall Street analysts, as of March 21, 2025.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

A biomedical scientist in a lab coat conducting research on biopharmaceutical compounds.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLS)

Analyst Upside: 75.14% 

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:APLS) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies targeting the complement system, specifically at the C3 protein level, to treat rare and serious diseases. The company generates revenue through its FDA-approved products, SYFOVRE for geographic atrophy and EMPAVELI for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLS) reported strong financial results for Q4 and the full year 2024, highlighting significant revenue growth. Q4 2024 revenue reached $212.5 million, up from $146.4 million in Q4 2023, while full-year revenue surged 97% to $781.4 million from $396.6 million in 2023. This growth was primarily driven by the strong sales of SYFOVRE, the first approved treatment for geographic atrophy (GA), which generated $167.8 million in Q4 and $611.9 million for the year. EMPAVELI also contributed with $23.4 million in Q4 and $98.1 million for the full year.

Despite a net loss of $36.4 million for Q4 2024 and $197.9 million for the year, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:APLS) showed significant improvement in its financial performance compared to 2023, where losses were higher. R&D expenses decreased, reflecting improved operational efficiency, and SG&A expenses remained stable. As of December 31, 2024, the company had $411.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, positioning it to continue operations until profitability.

Looking ahead, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:APLS) benefits from a first-mover advantage with SYFOVRE in the GA market, and its pipeline expansion, including potential approvals for C3G and IC-MPGN, could further boost revenues. Strategic collaborations, such as with Sobi, enhance global reach, and the company’s path to profitability is becoming clearer with strong revenue growth and controlled expenses. Most promising stocks are often those that show significant potential for growth, and Apellis is positioning itself to be one of them.

Overall, APLS ranks 3rd among the 12 most promising biotech stocks according to wall street analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of biotech companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than APLS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure. None: This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.