10 Best Performing Pharma Stocks So Far in 2025

1. Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO)

YTD Performance: 80.61%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) is a clinical-stage company that develops transformational treatments for patients with serious metabolic diseases that have high unmet medical needs, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which does not have any approved therapies. The company’s primary product is efruxifermin (EFX), which treats MASH and is undergoing phase 3 of clinical trials. Efruxifermin (EFX) is an analog of fibroblast growth factor 21, an endogenously expressed hormone that regulates carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins while offering protection against cellular stress.

The Phase 2b study of the drug was well-received by participants, with no deaths and only minor adverse effects reported, causing the stock to surge in January. EFX has the potential to become a first-in-class therapy for MASH-induced cirrhosis, which is causing investors to be bullish on the company.

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) also completed an upsized public offering in January, raising $402.5 million by selling 6.4 million shares at $48 each. 30 hedge funds hold stakes in the company as of Q3 2024.

Overall, AKRO ranks first among the 10 best performing pharma stocks so far in 2025. While we acknowledge the potential of pharma stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AKRO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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