ZVRA

Healthcare

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. · Biotechnology · $590M

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
63.1
Good

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. scores 63.1/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Healthcare Sector
ZVRA
63.1
Sector avg
32.4
Quality
Neutral
Moat
Weak
Growth
Strong
Risk
Strong
Valuation
Attractive

What is Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.?

Zevra Therapeutics is a rare disease biopharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary prodrug therapies for serious, underserved medical conditions. Headquartered in Celebration, Florida, the company applies its Ligand Activated Therapy platform to reformulate and improve existing compounds.

Zevra generates improved prodrug versions of FDA-approved drugs and explores new disease indications using its proprietary Ligand Activated Therapy technology. The company targets high-need areas including ADHD, stimulant use disorder, and CNS rare diseases such as idiopathic hypersomnia. It holds FDA approval for AZSTARYS for ADHD and APADAZ for pain, while advancing clinical-stage candidates KP1077 and KP879 through Phase II trials. Revenue is supported by collaboration and licensing agreements with partners including KVK-Tech and Commave Therapeutics.

Formerly known as KemPharm, Inc., Zevra Therapeutics was established in 2015 and is headquartered in Celebration, Florida.

  • AZSTARYS — FDA-approved once-daily ADHD treatment for patients age six and older
  • APADAZ — FDA-approved immediate-release combination pain product
  • KP1077 — Phase II prodrug candidate for idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy
  • KP879 — Phase II prodrug candidate targeting stimulant use disorder
  • Ligand Activated Therapy platform for prodrug discovery and development

Is ZVRA a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates ZVRA as Good overall, reflecting a balanced profile across its five analytical pillars.

The Growth pillar stands out as the clearest strength, consistent with a clinical-stage rare disease company advancing multiple pipeline assets toward potential commercialization. The Risk pillar also registers as Good, suggesting the company's risk profile is manageable relative to small-cap biotech peers. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the market may not yet fully price in the pipeline opportunity.

The Moat pillar is rated Weak, which is common for emerging rare disease companies still building durable competitive advantages. Quality is Neutral, reflecting the financial realities of a pre-profitability biotech.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does ZVRA pay dividends?

No — Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

Zevra Therapeutics does not currently pay a dividend. This is typical for clinical-stage rare disease companies that prioritize reinvesting capital into research, clinical trials, and pipeline development. Investors in ZVRA are generally seeking growth from pipeline advancement rather than income from distributions.

When does ZVRA report earnings?

Zevra Therapeutics reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed equities.

As a rare disease company with both approved products and clinical-stage assets, quarterly results tend to reflect licensing revenue, collaboration milestones, and operating expenses tied to ongoing trials. Pipeline progress and partnership updates often carry as much weight as headline financials for investors tracking ZVRA.

For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Zevra Therapeutics' investor relations page directly.

ZVRA Price History

+1.5% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.?

$
Today it would be worth
$11,583
That's a +15.8% total return, or +3.0% annualized.

Based on Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

ZVRA Long-term Outlook

Zevra's Strong Growth pillar points to meaningful near-term catalysts, particularly as KP1077 and KP879 advance through Phase II trials. A positive readout in idiopathic hypersomnia — a condition with limited treatment options — could represent a significant inflection point. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the current market price may leave room for upside if pipeline milestones are met. However, the Weak Moat rating is a reminder that competitive positioning remains early-stage and subject to clinical and regulatory outcomes.

Growth drivers

  • Phase II advancement of KP1077 in idiopathic hypersomnia and narcolepsy
  • Continued commercialization and licensing revenue from AZSTARYS
  • Potential new indications enabled by the Ligand Activated Therapy platform

Key risks

  • Clinical trial failure or regulatory setbacks for KP1077 or KP879
  • Limited moat increases vulnerability to competition if pipeline succeeds
  • Small-cap biotech funding risk if milestones are delayed

ZVRA vs Peers

Zevra operates in a competitive rare disease and specialty pharma space alongside other small-cap clinical-stage companies.

PROKZVRA scores higher
ProKidney Corp.

ProKidney focuses on cell therapy for chronic kidney disease, operating in a different therapeutic area with a distinct technology platform from Zevra's prodrug approach.

CLYMZVRA scores higher
Climb Bio, Inc.

Climb Bio targets fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, giving it a different disease focus and clinical risk profile compared to Zevra's CNS and ADHD pipeline.

OCGNZVRA scores higher
Ocugen, Inc.

Ocugen concentrates on ophthalmology and gene therapy, differentiating itself from Zevra through both therapeutic area and the underlying drug development technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zevra Therapeutics do?

Zevra Therapeutics discovers and develops proprietary prodrug therapies for rare and serious medical conditions. The company uses its Ligand Activated Therapy platform to improve existing FDA-approved compounds and explore new disease indications, with a focus on ADHD, stimulant use disorder, and CNS rare diseases like idiopathic hypersomnia.

Does ZVRA pay dividends?

No, Zevra Therapeutics does not currently pay a dividend. As a clinical-stage rare disease company, it reinvests available capital into research and pipeline development rather than returning cash to shareholders through distributions.

When does ZVRA report earnings?

Zevra Therapeutics reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of the company's official website.

Is ZVRA a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates ZVRA as Good overall. The Growth pillar is Strong and Valuation is Attractive, which may appeal to investors seeking pipeline-driven upside. However, the Weak Moat and Neutral Quality ratings reflect the risks inherent in early-stage rare disease development. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is ZVRA overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for ZVRA is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock may be reasonably priced relative to its growth potential. For clinical-stage biotechs, valuation is closely tied to pipeline progress and milestone outcomes rather than current earnings.

How does ZVRA compare to its competitors?

Zevra's prodrug-focused CNS and rare disease pipeline distinguishes it from peers like ProKidney, Climb Bio, and Ocugen, which operate in kidney disease, fibrosis, and ophthalmology respectively. Each company carries its own clinical and commercial risk profile. UQS Pro members can view side-by-side pillar comparisons.

What is ZVRA's market cap bracket?

Zevra Therapeutics is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market where clinical trial outcomes and partnership milestones can have an outsized impact on share price relative to large-cap peers.

Who founded Zevra Therapeutics?

The company was originally founded as KemPharm, Inc. and later rebranded as Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. Founding details are publicly available through the company's official disclosures and SEC filings.

Is ZVRA a long-term quality investment?

From a long-term quality perspective, ZVRA's Strong Growth pillar and Attractive Valuation are encouraging signals. The Weak Moat rating, however, indicates the company has not yet built deep competitive barriers. Long-term quality depends heavily on clinical success and the company's ability to commercialize its pipeline effectively.

What is the main competitive advantage of Zevra Therapeutics?

Zevra's primary differentiator is its Ligand Activated Therapy platform, which enables the creation of improved prodrug versions of existing compounds. This approach can reduce development risk by building on known pharmacology while targeting rare, underserved conditions where regulatory pathways may be more accessible.

What sector does ZVRA belong to?

Zevra Therapeutics operates in the Healthcare sector, specifically within rare disease and specialty pharmaceutical development. Its pipeline spans CNS disorders, ADHD, and stimulant use disorder, positioning it at the intersection of neurology and rare disease medicine.

Is ZVRA a growth stock or value stock?

Based on UQS pillar labels, ZVRA leans toward the growth side — its Growth pillar is rated Strong while Valuation is Attractive. This combination suggests a company with meaningful upside potential that the market has not fully priced in, though clinical execution risk remains a key variable.

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Pro Analysis

ZVRA — Score History

55606570Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 9 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 13, 202662.450.538.082.382.476.7+1.2
May 8, 202661.250.538.081.982.468.9-2.8
May 7, 202664.046.738.086.373.796.7-0.1
Apr 26, 202664.146.738.086.373.797.70.0
Apr 19, 202664.146.738.086.373.797.2-0.1
Apr 18, 202664.246.738.086.373.798.1+0.1
Apr 14, 202664.146.738.086.373.797.40.0
Apr 12, 202664.146.738.086.373.797.60.0
Apr 2, 202664.146.738.086.373.797.7

ZVRA — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

50.9/100 (25%)

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityStrong

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityWeak

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsStrong

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationWeak

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

82.3/100 (20%)

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. is growing rapidly with strong revenue and earnings expansion.

Recent Revenue TrendStrong

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRStrong

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthStrong

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookStrong

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthWeak

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

82.4/100 (15%)

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.

Financial LeverageStrong

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioStrong

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

80.3/100 (15%)

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

PEG RatioModerate

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

38/100 (25%)

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for ZVRA.

Score Composition

Quality
50.9×25%12.7
Growth
82.3×20%16.5
Risk
82.4×15%12.4
Valuation
80.3×15%12.0
Moat
38.0×25%9.5
Total
63.1Good

Financial Data

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How is the ZVRA UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.