IRWD
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD) Economic Moat Analysis (2026)
Overall Score
Profitability Returns
Gross margin remains exceptionally high at 99.8%, supporting strong pricing power in the core franchise.
ROIC is strong at 57.8% and operating ROA is 65.6%, indicating efficient capital deployment.
ROE remains negative at -57.4% due to negative equity, so equity-based returns are less informative.
Balance Sheet Financial Resilience
Liquidity is very strong with a current ratio of 6.1x and cash ratio of 2.4x.
Net debt to EBITDA is manageable at 1.3x, but leverage metrics are distorted by negative equity.
Cash generation is solid, with free cash flow yield at 25.9% and operating cash flow coverage remaining healthy.
Cash Flow Quality
Income quality is high at 0.96, suggesting earnings are well supported by cash flow.
Operating cash flow margin is 47.7% and free cash flow conversion is effectively 100% of operating cash flow.
Working capital dynamics are favorable, with a negative cash conversion cycle of -256.5 days.
Competitive Positioning
The business shows strong unit economics, but the moat appears narrower than top-tier pharma peers.
Revenue per share of 2.35 and EV/sales of 2.66x suggest the market is pricing in steady but not dominant long-term growth.
High R&D intensity at 22.5% of revenue supports product durability, but also signals ongoing reinvestment needs.
Sources
- Company filings (10-K, 10-Q, investor presentations)
- Financial and market data providers
- Public news and industry information
🔒 Go Beyond This Framework
This is one of 10 institutional-grade frameworks Invetso runs on Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Unlock the complete analysis — SWOT, Economic Moat, Porter’s Five Forces, Management, PESTLE and the Invetso Quality Score.

