Billionaire Joe Edelman’s 10 Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential

9. Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:ASND)

Perceptive Advisors’ Stake: $231 Million

Analyst Upside Potential: 48%

The primary catalyst for hedge fund interest in Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:ASND) stock over the past few weeks is the FDA approval of YUVIWEL for children with achondroplasia. Earlier this month, Ascendis received Orphan Drug Exclusivity and officially launched YUVIWEL in the United States. YUVIWEL is a major competitor to BioMarin’s Voxzogo. Analysts note that YUVIWEL’s once-weekly dosing schedule offers a significant lifestyle advantage over daily injectables, which is expected to drive market share gains. The firm recently completed its transition from American Depositary Shares (ADSs) to a direct listing of ordinary shares on the Nasdaq. This structural change was designed specifically to broaden access to global investors.

Top investors are buying Ascendis Pharma A/S (NASDAQ:ASND) stock ahead of potential inclusion in major equity indexes like the Russell 1000 or specialized biotech indexes. Direct listings often lead to increased trading liquidity and higher levels of passive institutional ownership. Recent trial successes have de-risked the company’s broader TransCon platform. In the beginning of April, data showed that combining TransCon hGH with TransCon CNP accelerated benefits for children with achondroplasia beyond linear growth. Similarly, in the InsiGHTS trial, positive data demonstrated comparable efficacy to daily somatropin, potentially opening another multi-billion dollar market for the company’s growth hormone products.