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Two beaten-down AI-linked stocks—Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Fiverr—offer contrarian investors potential upside if the companies can execute their strategies, though both face significant headwinds and execution risk.

Yahoo Finance AI2h ago4 min read
Two beaten-down AI-linked stocks—Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Fiverr—offer contrarian investors potential upside if the companies can execute their strategies, though both face significant headwinds and execution risk.

Key takeaway

Two AI-adjacent stocks that have fallen sharply are attracting contrarian interest. Recursion Pharmaceuticals uses AI to accelerate drug discovery but has yet to bring any product to market, while larger pharma rivals with deeper pockets are also investing in the same technology. Fiverr, a freelancer platform, is pivoting from low-cost quick gigs to higher-value complex projects to defend against AI automation, though revenue and user counts are currently declining.

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3 Key Points

  • What happened

    Recursion Pharmaceuticals, an AI-focused biotech company, uses an AI-powered algorithm to run virtual experiments and select drug candidates for clinical trials, aiming to improve development speed and margins compared to the industry average. Fiverr, a freelancer-matching platform, is shifting strategy away from quick $5 gigs toward higher-value projects (worth $1,000 and more), which are growing rapidly on the platform.

  • Why it matters

    Recursion is betting AI can solve 'Eroom's law'—the rising cost and time of drug development—but has no approved products yet and faces competition from well-capitalized pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly that are also investing in AI. For Fiverr, the shift addresses a real threat: while AI services initially boosted the platform, AI itself now threatens traditional freelance work, so the company is focusing on complex projects AI cannot easily handle.

  • What to watch

    Recursion's candidate REC-4881 for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is described as showing promise in clinical trials by significantly reducing polyp burden; regulatory approval would validate the company's approach and potentially drive the share price higher. Fiverr's earnings per share improved to $0.23 in the first period (versus $0.02 a year ago), though revenue and active buyers are both declining; the company is betting its new strategy will reverse these trends over the next five years.

FAQ

What is Recursion Pharmaceuticals' main competitive advantage?
Recursion uses an AI-powered algorithm that continuously runs virtual experiments to select which drug candidates to send to clinical trials, with the goal of improving success rates compared to the industry average and launching drugs faster while generating stronger margins and profits.
Why is Fiverr shifting away from its original $5 gig model?
Fiverr is shifting to higher-value complex projects because AI has begun to threaten the traditional freelance landscape by replacing work that previously required human freelancers; focusing on complex jobs that AI cannot easily do is intended to protect the business and boost engagement and spending per buyer.
What is the status of Recursion Pharmaceuticals' drug pipeline?
Recursion has no approved products and none in late-stage studies, though the company is developing REC-4881 for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which has shown promise in clinical trials by significantly reducing polyp burden.

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