Alkermes (NASDAQ:ALKS) Reaches New 12-Month High - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• 52-week high and Q1 beat: Alkermes shares surged to a new 52-week high after reporting Q1 revenue of roughly $392.9M (up ~28% YoY) and a smaller‑than‑expected loss, spurring short‑term buying and positive analyst/institutional interest.
• Guidance is the main risk: Management narrowed FY‑2026 EPS guidance to a range well below Street expectations and issued revenue guidance at or slightly under consensus, which could weigh on the stock despite the quarterly beat.
• Mixed but constructive sentiment: Analysts hold an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $44.29, institutional ownership is high (~95%), and insiders have made routine disclosed sales.

Alkermes plc (NASDAQ:ALKS - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $36.56 and last traded at $36.1040, with a volume of 1878427 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $34.17.

Alkermes News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Alkermes this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 revenue and EPS beat — Alkermes reported revenue of roughly $392.9M (up ~28% YoY) and an adjusted loss smaller than consensus, beating revenue and EPS estimates. The topline strength and margin commentary from results likely reassured investors. Press Release
• Positive Sentiment: Beat vs. estimates on the quarter — Market coverage and data providers note the company topped revenue and posted a smaller-than-expected loss (Zacks reporting the loss was narrower than the consensus). That outperformance is likely driving short‑term buying. Zacks: Q1 Loss, Beats Revenue
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment and institutional ownership remain supportive — recent analyst buys/ratings are constructive and large institutional holders have been increasing positions, which can underpin the stock on positive releases. MarketBeat Coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call transcript and detail available — Management discussion and Q&A (useful for assessing commercial momentum and pipeline timing) are posted for deeper read. Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Insider sale disclosed — EVP David Gaffin sold 2,034 shares under a 10b5‑1 plan; routine and disclosed sales like this are typically neutral for long‑term thesis. Insider Trade
• Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 guidance disappointed on EPS — Alkermes narrowed/updated FY EPS guidance to a range well below consensus (management gave a materially more negative EPS range than Street expected), which is the principal bearish takeaway and could pressure the stock if investors focus on full‑year earnings. Guidance in Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue guidance slightly below consensus — management's revenue range sits at or slightly under Street expectations, limiting upside to FY revenue estimates. CTPost Snapshot

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on ALKS. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Alkermes from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of Alkermes from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Truist Financial upgraded shares of Alkermes to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Alkermes from $37.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Alkermes from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $44.29.

Alkermes Price Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average of $31.44 and a 200 day moving average of $30.95. The company has a market cap of $6.03 billion, a PE ratio of 25.35 and a beta of 0.31.

Alkermes (NASDAQ:ALKS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, February 14th. The company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter. Alkermes had a return on equity of 14.91% and a net margin of 16.37%.The company had revenue of $384.55 million during the quarter. Sell-side analysts forecast that Alkermes plc will post -0.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP David Joseph Gaffin sold 2,034 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.20, for a total value of $67,528.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 231,558 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,687,725.60. This trade represents a 0.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Christian Todd Nichols sold 6,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.00, for a total value of $180,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 109,769 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,293,070. The trade was a 5.18% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 39,102 shares of company stock valued at $1,265,090 over the last quarter. 4.59% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alkermes

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management lifted its position in Alkermes by 20.1% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 29,805 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,054,000 after buying an additional 4,991 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Alkermes by 1.1% during the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 958,016 shares of the company's stock valued at $33,875,000 after buying an additional 10,393 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in Alkermes by 18.5% during the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 77,928 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,756,000 after buying an additional 12,165 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in Alkermes by 4.8% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,272 shares of the company's stock valued at $328,000 after buying an additional 422 shares during the period. Finally, Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its position in Alkermes by 12.9% during the first quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 48,337 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,731,000 after buying an additional 5,520 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.21% of the company's stock.

About Alkermes

Alkermes plc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative medicines to address unmet needs in the central nervous system (CNS). The company applies its proprietary drug delivery technologies and therapeutic expertise to advance treatments for addiction, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and depression. Alkermes' portfolio includes both commercial products and a pipeline of investigational therapies designed to improve patient outcomes and support long-term disease management.

Alkermes' commercial franchise features several approved products.

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