Should You Retain Exact Sciences Stock in Your Portfolio Now?

Core Insights - Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is focusing on high-return pipeline opportunities that significantly impact patients, which is expected to drive growth in the upcoming quarter [1] - The company is enhancing its digital infrastructure and diagnostics to provide comprehensive insights throughout cancer care [1] Financial Performance - Over the past year, EXAS shares have decreased by 35%, contrasting with a 12.3% decline in the industry and a 10.5% gain in the S&P 500 [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $8.48 billion and a long-term earnings growth rate of 29.4%, outperforming the industry's 21.5% [2] - In the last four quarters, EXAS's earnings surpassed estimates twice, met once, and missed once, with an average surprise of 37.98% [2] Key Drivers for Growth - EXAS is advancing new solutions, including colon cancer screening, molecular residual disease testing, and multi-cancer screening, building on the success of Cologuard and Oncotype DX tests [3] - The company has received FDA approval for Cologuard Plus, a next-generation colon cancer screening test, set to launch in Q2 2025, with Medicare coverage [4] - EXAS is also progressing with blood-based colon cancer screening tests, with pivotal study results expected by mid-2025 [4] Customer Experience Enhancement - The company aims to transform cancer care by providing valuable insights at every stage of diagnosis and treatment, leveraging its proprietary technology platform, Exact Nexus [5] - The goal is to increase the completion rate of Cologuard screenings every three years, thereby closing the screening gap [5] Challenges Faced - EXAS is experiencing escalating costs due to global macroeconomic conditions, including geopolitical conflicts and a high-interest-rate environment, impacting profitability [6][8] - In Q4 2024, the cost of revenues rose by 14.4% year-over-year, with sales and marketing expenses increasing by 12.9% [8] - The competitive landscape for colorectal cancer screening is tough, with numerous competitors possessing greater financial and developmental resources [9] Stock Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXAS's 2025 loss per share has declined by 1.7% to 59 cents, while the revenue estimate suggests a 10.7% year-over-year improvement [10]