Does Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) 45.8 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 100, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.

How has RARE's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 45.8 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.

RARE · Healthcare · $2.8B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power100

Median gross margin 98.9% over 2y, very stable.

Returns on capital0

Median ROIC -91.8%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety55

Net cash position — no leverage risk.

Capital discipline24

Owner earnings trend unclear, share count growing (dilution).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

No price data

Owner earnings (normalized): —
Est. intrinsic value / share: —
Recent price: $29.28
Discount to value: No price data

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

15 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $133000 (FY2016) to $673.0M (FY2025) — about 158.0% a year compounded over 9 years.

It earned −522.8% on invested capital in FY2024, with a median of −62.6% across 11 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 0/100.

RARE's filings don't disclose total debt in a form the methodology can use, so leverage is treated as unmeasured — never assumed to be zero.

The share count rose 2464.9% between FY2013 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 24/100.

Put together: Pricing Power is the strongest of the four filters (100/100) and Returns on Capital the weakest (0/100), which is how RARE lands at 46/100 — a Shallow moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$673.0M FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods97.8% FY2018

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed−522.8% FY2024

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out−$546.0M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in RARE’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale45.8 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — RARE has read Shallow moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Healthcare context

#160 of 440 scored Healthcare companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#158BLFS BioLife Solutions, Inc.45.8 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#159IBRX IMMUNITYBIO, INC.45.8 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#161NTLA INTELLIA THERAPEUTICS, INC.45.8 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#162STXS Stereotaxis, Inc.45.7 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

Compare RARE with its nearest peers →All Healthcare companies on the Index →

Common questions about RARE

Does Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) 45.8 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 100, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 24.
How has RARE's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 45.8 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell RARE. See the disclaimer.