Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

by · The Cerbat Gem

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR – Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eight brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $111.8333.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup began coverage on Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $102.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. BTIG Research lifted their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $100.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. B. Riley boosted their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $85.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Finally, HC Wainwright upped their target price on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $120.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NKTR

Nektar Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ NKTR opened at $44.47 on Tuesday. Nektar Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $6.45 and a fifty-two week high of $66.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $904.52 million, a P/E ratio of -5.58 and a beta of 1.31. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $54.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $43.28.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.85) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.85) by $1.00. Nektar Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 192.87% and a negative return on equity of 456.53%. The company had revenue of $11.79 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $10.20 million. Sell-side analysts expect that Nektar Therapeutics will post -0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Nektar Therapeutics news, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 1,157 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.28, for a total value of $62,801.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 18,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,029,745.88. The trade was a 5.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 2,207 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.28, for a total value of $119,795.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 54,245 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,944,418.60. This trade represents a 3.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 3,994 shares of company stock valued at $216,794 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 3.71% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Nektar Therapeutics by 1.4% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 7,301,734 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $4,961,000 after buying an additional 100,645 shares in the last quarter. Almitas Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 401.1% during the first quarter. Almitas Capital LLC now owns 4,610,872 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,135,000 after acquiring an additional 3,690,647 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 336.9% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,640,851 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,463,000 after acquiring an additional 2,807,595 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its position in Nektar Therapeutics by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 3,007,928 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $2,045,000 after acquiring an additional 380,967 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Nektar Therapeutics by 30.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 948,647 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $53,978,000 after purchasing an additional 219,155 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.88% of the company’s stock.

Nektar Therapeutics Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel drug candidates through its proprietary chemistry and immunology platforms. The company focuses on polymer conjugate technology, which enables the creation of longer-acting versions of existing drugs, and on T-cell modulatory therapies aimed at harnessing the body’s immune system to treat cancer and other serious diseases.

Nektar’s product portfolio and pipeline include a range of clinical-stage and partnered programs.

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