Yahoo Finance The Diffusion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:DFFN) Share Price Is Down 98% So Some Shareholders Are Very Salty
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It's not possible to invest over long periods without making some bad investments. But really bad investments should be rare. So take a moment to sympathize with the long term shareholders of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:DFFN), who have seen the share price tank a massive 98% over a three year period. That would be a disturbing experience. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 68% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 34% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.
We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson.
See our latest analysis for Diffusion Pharmaceuticals
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals hasn't yet reported any revenue yet, so it's as much a business idea as an actual business. This state of affairs suggests that venture capitalists won't provide funds on attractive terms. As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. For example, they may be hoping that Diffusion Pharmaceuticals comes up with a great new product, before it runs out of money.
We think companies that have neither significant revenues nor profits are pretty high risk. You should be aware that there is always a chance that this sort of company will need to issue more shares to raise money to continue pursuing its business plan. While some companies like this go on to deliver on their plan, making good money for shareholders, many end in painful losses and eventual de-listing. It certainly is a dangerous place to invest, as Diffusion Pharmaceuticals investors might realise.
When it reported in March 2019 Diffusion Pharmaceuticals had minimal cash in excess of all liabilities consider its expenditure: just US$2.3m to be specific. So if it has not already moved to replenish reserves, we think the near-term chances of a capital raising event are pretty high. That probably explains why the share price is down 74% per year, over 3 years. You can see in the image below, how Diffusion Pharmaceuticals's cash levels have changed over time (click to see the values). The image below shows how Diffusion Pharmaceuticals's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image.
In reality it's hard to have much certainty when valuing a business that has neither revenue or profit. Would it bother you if insiders were selling the stock? It would bother me, that's for sure. It costs nothing but a moment of your time to see if we are picking up on any insider selling.
A Different Perspective
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals shareholders are down 68% for the year, but the broader market is up 7.0%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. However, the loss over the last year isn't as bad as the 74% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last three years. We would want clear information suggesting the company will grow, before taking the view that the share price will stabilize. You could get a better understanding of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals's growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.
For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.
