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        <title>Motif Bio News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
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                                <title>One &#8216;secret&#8217; growth stock I’d buy alongside this FTSE 100 growth monster</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/04/10/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-this-ftse-100-growth-monster/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2018 13:20:21 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shire]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=111491</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This hidden growth stock is gearing up to become the next FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) growth champion. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/04/10/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-this-ftse-100-growth-monster/">One &#8216;secret&#8217; growth stock I’d buy alongside this FTSE 100 growth monster</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When my Foolish colleague Kevin Godbold last covered <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB) <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/12/06/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-motif-bio-plc/">at the end of last year</a> he concluded that, after a recent fundraising supported by a specialist pharmaceutical lender, the firm&#8217;s outlook had improved significantly.</p>
<p>Nearly four months on and it looks to me as if this assessment remains accurate.</p>
<h3>About to pay off </h3>
<p>Motif raised $20m in debt financing from Hercules Capital, a firm specialising in customised debt financing for companies in life sciences and technology-related markets, at the end of last year. This additional cash has helped the company push forward with the development of its flagship <i>iclaprim</i> treatment. </p>
<p>Iclaprim is designed to fill a gap in the traditional antibiotic market by providing a standard of care not currently available to patients who have other health issues, specifically, kidney problems. The size of the potential market for this treatment is growing as more and more people become exposed to issues that may impact kidney function, such as obesity and diabetes. </p>
<p>2018 and 2019 will be a transformational year as the company seeks to get this treatment approved for sale by the US Food and Drugs Administration. It has already met FDA standards in Phase 3 clinical trials conducted throughout 2017, so management is hopeful that it won&#8217;t be long before it can start booking revenue from sales. </p>
<p>However, the firm is facing the prospect of a cash crunch. </p>
<p>Motif is generating no revenue and lost a total of $44.8m last year. With cash and cash equivalents of $22.7m at the end of December 2017 (and $15m of the $20m drawn down from debt financing), the firm has less than six months of cash left before new funding is required. </p>
<p>Indeed, today&#8217;s full-year earnings release from the company states: &#8220;<i>The Group will be required to raise additional capital within the next year.</i>&#8221; Still, with Iclaprim on the verge of being approved by regulators, it looks as if the risk/reward is skewed in investors&#8217; favour. </p>
<h3>More predictable outlook </h3>
<p>Motif is a high risk, high reward secret growth stock and to reduce the risk of holding it in your portfolio, I would buy it alongside <b>Shire</b> (LSE: SHP).</p>
<p>In my opinion, Shire is one of the most undervalued FTSE 100 stocks on the market today. Despite the company&#8217;s position as one of the world&#8217;s leading rare disease drugs producers, shares in Shire currently trade at a depressed forward P/E of just 10. By comparison, the median P/E of the UK pharmaceutical sector is 19.7. </p>
<p>It seems investors are avoiding the company due to concerns about its highly geared balance sheet and haematology franchise. After an acquisition spree, Shire&#8217;s gearing has jumped to 54%, which is hardly disastrous, but is a substantial change from the positive cash balance of $2.1bn reported for 2014.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, peers are edging in on the firm&#8217;s haematology franchise, which has historically been a money spinner for the group. More competition means the company will most likely suffer from falling profit margins going forward, which is bad news when you factor in Shire&#8217;s increased debt. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, despite these concerns, Shire continues to grow. City analysts have pencilled in earnings per share growth of 67% for 2018 and 8% for 2019. On top of this, Japanese peer Takeda has expressed interest in launching a full takeover of the company, which would be a fantastic result for investors.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/04/10/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-this-ftse-100-growth-monster/">One &#8216;secret&#8217; growth stock I’d buy alongside this FTSE 100 growth monster</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Shire. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>One ‘secret’ growth stock I’d buy alongside Motif Bio plc</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/06/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-motif-bio-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 06 Dec 2017 13:45:50 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Godbold]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oxford metrics]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=105932</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Emerging growth from this small-cap dynamo could even beat the performance of Motif Bio (LON: MTFB).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/06/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-motif-bio-plc/">One ‘secret’ growth stock I’d buy alongside Motif Bio plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I can’t fault the share price of <strong>Oxford Metrics</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-omg/">LSE: OMG</a>) over the past two years. Since the end of 2014 the stock is up over 200%. During that period revenue has risen, but earnings have wavered after shooting up 395% in 2015.</p>
<p>The firm provides analytics software for motion measurement and infrastructure asset management to clients in more than 70 countries. Customers include highway authorities managing and maintaining road networks, hospitals and clinicians, plus Hollywood studios who use the software to create visual effects.</p>
<h3><strong>A five-year plan for growth</strong></h3>
<p>Today’s full-year results continue the <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/10/19/2-small-cap-dividend-stocks-that-could-be-millionaire-makers/">trend in the finances</a>. Revenue from continuing operations at constant currency rates rose 7.6% compared to a year ago and adjusted profit before tax dropped almost 24%. The directors reckon earnings are down because of planned investment in the Yotta division, which provides cloud-based infrastructure asset management software to central and local government agencies and other infrastructure owners.</p>
<p>Judging by the muted share price reaction this morning, I think investors are happy to back the firm’s five-year growth plan. I think we should expect such investment at this stage, one year into the plan. Ongoing top-line growth suggests the potential for enhanced profits down the road, and chief executive Nick Bolton seems pleased with this year’s outcome saying “<em>annualised Recurring Revenues, a key metric for our five-year plan, has improved 22%.”</em></p>
<p>Oxford Metrics is reshaping its business for better growth, and I’m encouraged by the directors’ decision to raise the dividend by 20% this year in support of the firm’s progressive dividend policy. The outlook is positive, and I think the full ongoing growth potential of this company looks set to emerge over the next few years. It could prove timely to research the investment opportunity right now.</p>
<h3><strong>Finance in place</strong></h3>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB), the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has seen its share price ease around 19% since I last looked at the firm on 4 October. Back then the share price shot up on the news of a positive top-line result from a global Phase 3 clinical trial called REVIVE-2. This focused on the firm’s investigational drug candidate <em>iclaprim</em> for patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI). That successful trial clears the way for the firm to submit a new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in first quarter of 2018. </p>
<p>Maybe Motif Bio is on the <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/11/12/why-motif-bio-plc-is-a-growth-bargain-id-buy-and-hold-for-25-years/">cusp of commercialising</a> what could go on to be a big-earning drug. In the meantime, the firm lacks meaningful income, and I said in October that its finances looked precarious. But news arrived during November that the company has agreed a US $20m debt financing arrangement with <strong>Hercules Capital, Inc. </strong>a firm specialising in customised debt financing for companies in life sciences and technology-related markets.</p>
<p>Motif Bio plans to use the funds to finance pre-commercialisation and other activities leading to the anticipated US launch of <em>iclaprim </em>during 2019.  I reckon this is an encouraging development because it removes immediate worries over money and shows that Hercules sees potential for <em>iclaprim</em>. To me, the case for an investment in Motif Bio has improved and the fact that the share price is lower is a bonus.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/06/one-secret-growth-stock-id-buy-alongside-motif-bio-plc/">One ‘secret’ growth stock I’d buy alongside Motif Bio plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Kevin Godbold has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Soaring small-cap stocks Empyrean Energy plc and Motif Bio plc could make you seriously rich</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/26/soaring-small-cap-stocks-empyrean-energy-plc-and-motif-bio-plc-could-make-you-seriously-rich/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 26 Nov 2017 07:01:41 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harvey Jones]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Empyrean Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=105669</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Empyrean Energy plc (LON: EME) and Motif Bio plc (LON: MTFBO) are two of the most exciting stocks around right now, but Harvey Jones says hold onto your hats.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/26/soaring-small-cap-stocks-empyrean-energy-plc-and-motif-bio-plc-could-make-you-seriously-rich/">Soaring small-cap stocks Empyrean Energy plc and Motif Bio plc could make you seriously rich</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Oil and gas explorer <strong>Empyrean Energy</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-eme/">LSE: EME</a>) and clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB) are two of the most exciting small-caps on the UK market today. They are also among the most volatile, with their share prices spiking in recent months, only to slip in recent days. Companies like these could make you seriously rich, but you must also understand the risks.</p>
<h3>Cooking with gas</h3>
<p>Empyrean is pursuing what it describes as <em>&#8220;three cornerstone assets with transformational potential,&#8221; </em>the Block 29/11 offshore field in China, Duyung PSC offshore Indonesia, and a multi-project participating interest in the Sacramento Basin, California. </p>
<p>At the start of November it had the distinction of being a 12-bagger over 12 months, fuelled by positive seismic data at its China prospect, better-than-expected reservoir quality in Indonesia, and several zones of high gas flows in Dempsey, Sacramento. However, it has slipped due to profit-taking and a disappointing release on 15 November showing that the lowest zone in Sacramento is &#8220;<em>sub-commercial</em>&#8221; at current gas prices. However, significant gas flows suggests shallower zones could offer more encouraging results.</p>
<h3>Empyrean strikes back</h3>
<p>Oil investors must be constantly braced for potential setbacks like this one. Dempsey still offers a potential 1trn cubic feet, which local surface infrastructure could quickly bring to market. Recent slippage might even be your opportunity to buy into this £60m AIM-listed explorer.</p>
<p>Oil prices are rising, Empyrean has an experienced industry team behind it, and also boasts a net cash position. It is definitely one to monitor to see whether the share price fails lower as short-term investors drift away. There could be a cheaper buying opportunity ahead, if you are feeling brave, <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/11/16/these-2-bargain-stocks-could-still-make-you-brilliantly-rich/">but there are also other exciting prospects out there.</a></p>
<h3>Infectious bacteria</h3>
<p>Motif Bio went off like a bullet following publication of its half-yearly report on 29 September, its share price leaping 50% in a week to peak at 45p by 6 October. This was down to positive<span class="sw"> top-line results from REVIVE-1, a global Phase 3 clinical trial of its investigational drug candidate <em>iclaprim</em> in patients with </span><span class="sw">acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. However</span>, the AIM-listed stock has also since trailed away and today languishes at around 31p.</p>
<p>This £82m company is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical specialist that develops novel antibiotics to treat patients with serious infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. You can see the opportunities, and of course, the threats. As with Empyrean, future revenues, profits and stock market performance will be driven by news flow, so brace yourselves.</p>
<h3>Pipeline progress</h3>
<p>Recent news, such as announcing positive topline results for its REVIVE-2 treatment, presenting new pre-clinical data on <em>iclaprim</em> and securing up to US$20m in debt financing in mid-November have not prevented the downwards drift. However, this is a small company aiming at a big juicy target, and if its treatments come through the pipeline, you can expect its share price to spiral. <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/11/04/why-id-buy-astrazeneca-plc-over-this-soaring-growth-stock/">Or you might prefer this pharmaceutical opportunity.</a></p>
<p>Both these companies are trading at roughly half their 52-week highs to make them an exciting opportunity for those happy to embrace volatility rather than run away from it.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/26/soaring-small-cap-stocks-empyrean-energy-plc-and-motif-bio-plc-could-make-you-seriously-rich/">Soaring small-cap stocks Empyrean Energy plc and Motif Bio plc could make you seriously rich</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Harvey Jones has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>A &#8216;secret&#8217; dividend growth stock I&#8217;d buy instead of Motif Bio plc</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/13/a-secret-dividend-growth-stock-id-buy-instead-of-motif-bio-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 13 Nov 2017 11:40:14 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ocean Wilsons]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=105083</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This dividend growth stock could outperform Motif Bio plc (LON: MTFB).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/13/a-secret-dividend-growth-stock-id-buy-instead-of-motif-bio-plc/">A &#8216;secret&#8217; dividend growth stock I&#8217;d buy instead of Motif Bio plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Inflation could be set to pose <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/07/15/how-your-retirement-portfolio-could-be-wrecked-by-inflation-and-what-to-do-about-it/">significant challenges</a> for long-term investors. Already, it has reached 3% and this means that a wide range of investments offer a negative real yield. As such, finding stocks that can offer a dividend yield in excess of inflation, as well as strong dividend growth potential, could help investors beat a rapidly-rising price level.</p>
<p>The threat of inflation is the key reason why this &#8216;secret&#8217; dividend growth stock could be a better buy than <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB). That&#8217;s despite the biopharmaceutical company&#8217;s encouraging progress and strong long-term growth potential.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving performance</strong></h3>
<p>The &#8216;secret&#8217; dividend growth stock in question is <strong>Ocean Wilsons</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-ocn/">LSE: OCN</a>). The company is engaged in the provision of maritime services and logistics in Brazil, and issued a positive third quarter update on Monday. It showed that the company was able to increase revenue by $3.9m to $129.4m versus the same period of the prior year.</p>
<p>Port terminal and logistics revenue was 16% higher. This was mostly due to higher container terminal revenue. The latter was positively impacted by increased container movements as well as higher import revenue. Container volumes in the period were up 7%, with higher transhipment volumes being a key reason behind this growth. Towage and ship agency revenue for the quarter was 3% lower than in the prior year, although in the first nine months of the year the company&#8217;s total revenue moved 10% higher when compared to the prior year.</p>
<h3><strong>Dividend growth</strong></h3>
<p>With a dividend yield of 4%, Ocean Wilsons appears to have income appeal at the present time. Its income return is likely to remain ahead of inflation over the coming years, which may make it highly attractive to a number of investors. However, it is the company&#8217;s potential for dividend growth which could make it even more enticing. It has a dividend coverage ratio of 1.9, which suggests that dividends could grow at a faster pace than profit in the long run without hurting its ability to reinvest for future growth.</p>
<h3><strong>Capital growth potential</strong></h3>
<p>As well as its dividend growth prospects, the company could also offer high capital growth. It trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 13.3, which indicates it may offer <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/09/20/two-bargain-ftse-100-stocks-with-pe-ratios-under-10/">good value for money</a>.</p>
<p>Of course, Motif Bio also has high capital growth prospects. The company appears to be making encouraging progress with its clinical trials, and according to its most recent update it has been able to deliver on time its key milestones in the current year. Furthermore, positive top line results from its REVIVE-2 clinical trial show that it could offer improving financial performance in the long run. And with a recent placing, the company appears to have sufficient cash resources to deliver on its growth plans.</p>
<p>Certainly, Motif Bio is a stock with growth potential. The healthcare sector could offer less highly correlated returns at a time when the outlook for the wider stock market is uncertain. As such, it appears to offer investment appeal. However, with Ocean Wilsons having dividend growth potential while inflation moves higher versus no dividend payment for Motif Bio, it could be the better buy at the present time.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/13/a-secret-dividend-growth-stock-id-buy-instead-of-motif-bio-plc/">A &#8216;secret&#8217; dividend growth stock I&#8217;d buy instead of Motif Bio plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Peter Stephens has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Why Motif Bio plc is a growth bargain I&#8217;d buy and hold for 25 years</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/12/why-motif-bio-plc-is-a-growth-bargain-id-buy-and-hold-for-25-years/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 12 Nov 2017 08:20:56 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rupert Hargreaves]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shire]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=104965</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Motif Bio PLC (LON: MTFB) has a bright outlook but growth will take time. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/12/why-motif-bio-plc-is-a-growth-bargain-id-buy-and-hold-for-25-years/">Why Motif Bio plc is a growth bargain I&#8217;d buy and hold for 25 years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Developing new drugs is a risky business. Only around 7% of treatments make it through the approval process. With the average cost of production per treatment amounting to more than £1bn, it&#8217;s both a risky and costly process. </p>
<p>However, the payoff can be enormous, which is why small-cap biotech stocks like <strong>Motif Bio</strong> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/company/?ticker=lse-mtfb">(LSE: MTFB)</a> often attract plenty of attention. </p>
<p>Motif is developing several antibiotic treatments for niche diseases and management is planning to submit its first therapy for approval early next year. </p>
<h3>First drug opportunity </h3>
<p>This first drug is for patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI). The firm already <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/10/04/should-i-pile-into-motif-bio-plc-up-35-today/">has two required Phase 3 trials in ABSSSI necessary</a> to submit a new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration, which is planned to take place before the end of Q1 2018. </p>
<p>Unlike existing ABSSSI treatments, Motif&#8217;s product, <em>Iclaprim</em>, is not toxic to the kidneys. Around 26% of ABSSSI sufferers also have kidney disease, so this is a promising development. Nearly 4m patients are diagnosed with ABSSSI every year in the US, so <em>Iclaprim</em> could become a blockbuster seller for the firm. If it does, investors should be well rewarded for their patience. </p>
<h3>Undervalued </h3>
<p>The total addressable market value is estimated at $2.8bn, capturing just 10% of this would see Motif&#8217;s shares surge as the current market value is only £100m. </p>
<p>Shares in its larger rare disease treatment peer <strong>Shire</strong> (LSE: SHP) currently trade at a price-to-sales ratio of 2.9. If Motif can achieve sales of $280m, roughly £207m, the same valuation would indicate a market cap of £600m &#8212; a gain of 500% from current levels. </p>
<p>Shire also looks undervalued to me. The company has recently fallen out of favour with investors due to its rising debt pile, but management is working hard to bring down these obligations, and over the long term, the company should produce steady returns for investors. </p>
<h3>Making progress with growth </h3>
<p>For the fiscal first quarter (July to September), Shire reported that net cash generated by operating activities doubled to $1,055m, helping to reduce its net debt by $920m, a sizable decline, although even after this reduction, the group still holds a net debt balance of $20.4bn, a net gearing ratio of 62%. </p>
<p>Still, the company&#8217;s pricey acquisition of US firm Baxalta is paying off. For fiscal Q1 the group reported a 20% increase in adjusted earnings per share, which rose to $3.81 off the back of a <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/10/27/one-ftse-100-turnaround-stock-id-buy-and-one-id-sell/">20% increase in adjusted net profit</a>. </p>
<p>After recent declines, Based on broker forecasts the stock trades on a forecast P/E of 8.7 for 2017, which is cheap even after accounting for the company&#8217;s debt pile. The rest of the pharmaceutical industry trades at a median forward P/E of 17.  As the company continues to pay down debt and grow earnings, this valuation gap should quickly close. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/11/12/why-motif-bio-plc-is-a-growth-bargain-id-buy-and-hold-for-25-years/">Why Motif Bio plc is a growth bargain I&#8217;d buy and hold for 25 years</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Rupert Hargreaves owns no share mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Shire. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Should I pile into Motif Bio plc, up 35% today?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/10/04/should-i-pile-into-motif-bio-plc-up-35-today/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2017 12:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Godbold]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=103362</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Successful Phase 3 trials at Motif Bio plc (LON: MTFB) could signal good times ahead.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/10/04/should-i-pile-into-motif-bio-plc-up-35-today/">Should I pile into Motif Bio plc, up 35% today?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Good news hit the wires this morning from <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to develop novel antibiotics. The market likes it and the shares are around 36% higher as I write.</p>
<p>The excitement surrounds details of a positive topline result from a global Phase 3 clinical trial called REVIVE-2, which is focused on the firm’s investigational drug candidate <em>iclaprim</em> for patients with Acute Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (ABSSSI). </p>
<h3><strong>A new drug is born</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;">Chief executive Graham Lumsden tells us that today’s positive results mean the company has completed the two required Phase 3 trials in ABSSSI necessary to submit a new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which Motif Bio plans to do by the end of the first quarter of 2018. </span></p>
<p>According to medical experts, ABSSSI is a serious infection and every year around 3.6m people in the US are hospitalised with it for several days. The problem with existing treatments is that they tend to be toxic to the kidneys and that’s bad because around 26% of those suffering with ABSSSI also have kidney disease. Happily, during the trial, kidney toxicity was not observed with <em>iclaprim</em>.</p>
<p>The hope now is that <em>Iclaprim</em> may prove to be <em>“an important option for the growing population of patients with ABSSSI and kidney disease who need a safe and effective antibiotic targeting Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA.&#8221;</em> Meanwhile, from an investing point of view, the outcome of the trial means that <em>Iclaprim </em>now has value, which Motif Bio may be able to commercialise down the road.</p>
<h3><strong>Will the cash roll in?</strong></h3>
<p>Perhaps <em>Iclaprim</em> will go on to become a blockbusting best-seller. If so, it could end up delivering much-needed incoming cash flow to the company’s coffers. We saw with the recent interim results that Motif Bio has no income and spent more than $28m on operations during the first half of the year – early-stage drug development is an expensive activity. Investors are keeping the firm solvent, and a placing in June brought in just under $24m. But even then, the cash sitting on the balance sheet was only around $29m and the cash-burning agenda for operations marches on.</p>
<p>Of course, Motif Bio isn’t the only drug-development company with precarious finances, and we investors have to make judgements in such cases that balance the financial risks of owning the shares against the upside potential in a firm’s story. One consequence of this push-pull scenario in Motif Bio’s case is that the share price seems to fly up and down on news announcements depending on their tone. So, although the long-term story is full of potential, maybe it’s best to buy-in on down days rather than up days like today.  </p>
<p>The news today takes it closer to earning income, but the firm’s market capitalisation running close to £129m strikes me as hefty for a company with everything yet to prove. This stock could be a millionaire-maker or it could, yet, send you to the poorhouse, so I remain cautious.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/10/04/should-i-pile-into-motif-bio-plc-up-35-today/">Should I pile into Motif Bio plc, up 35% today?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Kevin Godbold has no position in Motif Bio. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>2 small-cap growth stocks that could make you a millionaire</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/29/2-small-cap-growth-stocks-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:11:58 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alan Oscroft]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tiziana Life Sciences]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=103208</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>You don't need many growth shares to come good to make some significant cash. Here are two that could have great prospects.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/29/2-small-cap-growth-stocks-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">2 small-cap growth stocks that could make you a millionaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There do seem to be a lot of attractive small-cap growth prospects out there these days &#8212; and even ace investor Neil Woodford has a few tucked away, including some biotech and pharmaceuticals prospects.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m taking a look at two here, both of which released first-half results Friday, and neither of which is in profit yet.</p>
<p>The first is <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB), which is in the business of developing novel antibiotics &#8212; and you don&#8217;t need me to tell you of the possible profit potential in that field, with our existing range of antibiotics falling one-by-one to the rapid onset of bacterial resistance.</p>
<p>Financially, Motif Bio is still in its net investment phase and has not recorded any profits yet, and there are none on the cards for at least the next two years.</p>
<h3>Enough cash</h3>
<p>A placement in June 2017 raised $23.7m, leaving the company with net cash at 30 June of $29.7m, so there&#8217;s cash there for now at least. But the company did record a net loss for the six months of $29.7m (following on from $14.2m in the same period last year). So cash burn is significant and at that rate it seems there&#8217;ll surely need to be further cash calls before profit is reached &#8212; investors today need to be aware of that possible dilution.</p>
<p>The good news is that the firm&#8217;s current key drug focus, iclaprim, which is intended to treat acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, made it successfully through its REVIVE-1 Phase 3 clinical trial. The drug appears to be of similar effectiveness as vancomycin, which is today often seen as the antibiotic of last resort &#8212; but there are already bugs out there with vancomycin resistance.</p>
<p>Phase 3 success is really big news, and approval from the FDA is what&#8217;s needed now &#8212; there have already been some positive steps toward that event.</p>
<h3>Tackling cancer</h3>
<p>My second pick is <strong>Tiziana Life Sciences</strong> (LSE: TILS), a company researching in the fields of oncology (cancer) and immune diseases.</p>
<p>On the financial front, the company recorded a loss of £3.87m in the half, which left it with £2m in cash at at 30 June (after the raising of £0.57m through the conversion of warrants in March). So again, with losses forecast to widen for the full year and for next year, it looks like Tiziana is also going to need significantly more cash to keep itself going.</p>
<p>The firm&#8217;s key prospects aren&#8217;t as far developed as Motif&#8217;s, with a <span class="ge">phase 2 clinical trial protocol of </span>milciclib, a treatment for a kind of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients who do not respond to existing treatments, having been approved in Israel with protocol submissions also made in Italy, Turkey and Greece.</p>
<h3>Antibodies</h3>
<p>The monoclonal antibody foralumab, aimed at inflammatory diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is set for its first study regarding efficacy and safety in patients with NASH and type 2 diabetes.</p>
<p>Tiziana has also acquired an exclusive worldwide license from Novimmune, for another monoclonal antibody with the snappy name of NI-1201.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s sizeable risk with both of these, though I do see Motif as the less risky of the two right now. But if this is your kind of investment, I reckon smaller investments in several candidates is a better approach than a big commitment to just one.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/29/2-small-cap-growth-stocks-that-could-make-you-a-millionaire/">2 small-cap growth stocks that could make you a millionaire</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Alan Oscroft has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Should you buy today&#8217;s biggest winner or biggest loser?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/09/should-you-buy-todays-biggest-winner-or-biggest-loser/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 09 Aug 2016 10:15:01 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motif Bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[STM Group]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=85314</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These two stocks are among today's biggest movers, but are they worth buying?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/09/should-you-buy-todays-biggest-winner-or-biggest-loser/">Should you buy today&#8217;s biggest winner or biggest loser?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Clinical stage biopharmaceutical company <strong>Motif Bio</strong> (LSE: MTFB) has slumped by as much as 21% today after announcing the postponement of its proposed public offering of American Depositary Shares (ADSs) on the NASDAQ Global Market. However, the company intends to continue to engage with investors and will provide a further update to the market in due course.</p>
<p>Motif Bio had intended to raise up to $60m from the move to fund its flagship drug <em>iclaprim&#8217;s</em> phase III clinical trials. Although today&#8217;s news doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean that funding will be lacking for the potential new treatment, it has caused investor sentiment towards Motif Bio to come under severe pressure. However, with the company stating that today&#8217;s move is a deferral, it could be a case of an overreaction by the market.</p>
<p>Still, Motif Bio is likely to remain highly volatile in the short run owing to doubts surrounding its near-term strategy. Therefore, it may be prudent for investors to watch, rather than buy, the company at the present time.</p>
<p>Certainly, it has significant long-term potential and the multi-drug-resistant bacteria space is set to be a major growth area as &#8216;superbugs&#8217; are emerging at a faster pace than new antibiotics are being developed. And with Motif Bio having an experienced management team and a sound strategy to build its treatment pipeline, its shares could continue to rise over the long term following their 20% gain since the start of the year. However, until more clarity is forthcoming regarding its public offering, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere for healthcare investments.</p>
<h3>Value for money</h3>
<p>While Motif Bio is among today&#8217;s major fallers, <strong>STM Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-stm/">LSE: STM</a>) is among the biggest winners. STM&#8217;s shares are up by as much as 16% following <a href="https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/STM/12923761.html">the release of an update</a> that shows the cross-border financial services provider has seen its new business numbers increase by 28% in July.</p>
<p>This follows an adjustment to STM&#8217;s pricing strategy for its core product, <em>QROPS</em>, with this being done to stimulate and drive new business growth for the benefit of future recurring revenue. And with new business applications in July representing the highest month of applications over the last year and a 75% uplift on the average number of applications of the first four months of the year, the pricing adjustment seems to be having its intended result.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, STM is <a href="https://www.digitallook.com/equity/STM_Group">forecast to increase its earnings by 23%</a> in the current year and by <a href="https://www.digitallook.com/equity/STM_Group">a further 33% next year</a>. This has the potential to act as a further positive catalyst on its share price and with STM trading on a <a href="https://www.digitallook.com/equity/STM_Group">price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 8.2</a>, it seems to offer good value for money for less risk-averse investors.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/09/should-you-buy-todays-biggest-winner-or-biggest-loser/">Should you buy today&#8217;s biggest winner or biggest loser?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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