Research Analysts Offer Predictions for ARQT Q1 Earnings

Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQT) – Analysts at HC Wainwright reduced their Q1 2026 EPS estimates for Arcutis Biotherapeutics in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, February 26th. HC Wainwright analyst D. Tsao now anticipates that the company will post earnings of ($0.08) per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of ($0.02). HC Wainwright currently has a “Buy” rating and a $34.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for Arcutis Biotherapeutics’ current full-year earnings is ($1.33) per share. HC Wainwright also issued estimates for Arcutis Biotherapeutics’ FY2026 earnings at $0.18 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $0.83 EPS, FY2028 earnings at $1.45 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $1.91 EPS.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:ARQT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.10. Arcutis Biotherapeutics had a negative net margin of 4.29% and a negative return on equity of 10.26%. The firm had revenue of $129.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $110.79 million.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on ARQT. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on Arcutis Biotherapeutics from $31.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Guggenheim lifted their target price on shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Arcutis Biotherapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $32.14.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics Price Performance

Shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics stock opened at $26.97 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $27.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.92. Arcutis Biotherapeutics has a 12 month low of $11.86 and a 12 month high of $31.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.35 billion, a P/E ratio of -192.63 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 3.17 and a quick ratio of 2.99.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ARQT. Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in Arcutis Biotherapeutics by 10.3% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,254,119 shares of the company’s stock worth $230,990,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144,714 shares during the last quarter. Suvretta Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics by 14.2% in the 4th quarter. Suvretta Capital Management LLC now owns 11,964,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $347,435,000 after purchasing an additional 1,486,000 shares during the last quarter. Frazier Life Sciences Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics by 12.4% during the 2nd quarter. Frazier Life Sciences Management L.P. now owns 9,874,511 shares of the company’s stock worth $138,441,000 after purchasing an additional 1,089,227 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,253,936 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,654,000 after purchasing an additional 107,846 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Polar Capital Holdings Plc increased its position in shares of Arcutis Biotherapeutics by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Polar Capital Holdings Plc now owns 5,556,169 shares of the company’s stock worth $161,351,000 after purchasing an additional 257,415 shares during the last quarter.

Insider Transactions at Arcutis Biotherapeutics

In related news, insider Masaru Matsuda sold 40,638 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.28, for a total transaction of $1,027,328.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 110,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,780,875.84. This trade represents a 26.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Patrick Burnett sold 9,794 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $252,783.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 80,651 shares in the company, valued at $2,081,602.31. The trade was a 10.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 112,999 shares of company stock valued at $2,960,174 in the last three months. 9.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Key Headlines Impacting Arcutis Biotherapeutics

Here are the key news stories impacting Arcutis Biotherapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Solid Q4 results and revenue beat — Arcutis reported a robust Q4 with revenue growth and a GAAP EPS beat, driven by Zoryve adoption; the quarter and raised guidance underpin the bullish view on commercial execution. Arcutis Biotherapeutics surges on earnings beat, raised guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple analyst price-target increases — Needham, TD Cowen and Guggenheim raised targets (to the mid-$30s) and maintain buy ratings, signaling analyst confidence in growth and creating upside narrative for the stock. Benzinga coverage of analyst price-target changes
• Positive Sentiment: Bull case coverage highlights pipeline and label-expansion catalysts — Recent analyst and media pieces emphasize Zoryve market leadership, operating leverage and upcoming pediatric/label catalysts that could support longer-term upside. Arcutis Earnings: Zoryve Dominance And Pipeline Catalysts Drive The Bull Case
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor presentation scheduled — Management will present at TD Cowen’s healthcare conference next week, giving investors an opportunity for updated guidance/visibility; this is a near-term catalyst but not an immediate earnings event. Arcutis Management to Present at TD Cowen’s 46th Annual Health Care Conference
• Neutral Sentiment: Broad coverage and transcripts available — Earnings call transcript and multiple recaps give investors transparency into execution and guidance; this helps short- and long-term assessment but is informational. Arcutis (ARQT) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term EPS cuts by HC Wainwright — Despite maintaining a Buy and $34 target, HC Wainwright lowered Q2–Q4 2026 EPS estimates, which can temper short-term sentiment and provide a rationale for profit-taking after the post-earnings rally.
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed/unclear short-interest data — Recent short-interest reports appear inconsistent (zero/NaN entries), creating uncertainty about downside pressure from traders; unclear short-covering dynamics can add volatility.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics Company Profile

Arcutis Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for immuno-inflammatory skin diseases. The company’s research and development efforts center on targeted treatments that address the underlying biology of conditions such as plaque psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and vitiligo. Arcutis employs a precision-medicine approach to deliver topical therapies designed to improve efficacy and tolerability compared with existing treatment options.

In August 2022, Arcutis received U.S.