Atara Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:ATRA) Upgraded by Wall Street Zen to Hold Rating

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Atara Biotherapeutics from “sell” to “hold,” while the broader analyst consensus remains “Hold” with an average price target of $9.50. Other firms are mixed, with Weiss Ratings still at “sell” and Canaccord Genuity at “buy” with a $13 target.
• The stock was little changed, opening at $9.58 and trading near its 200-day moving average of $9.12. Atara has a market cap of about $86.3 million and remains volatile, with a 52-week range of $3.92 to $19.15.
• Recent fundamentals and legal developments are mixed: the company beat EPS estimates for the quarter but missed revenue expectations, and a new securities class action plus other litigation reminders could add uncertainty and pressure on the shares.

Atara Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:ATRA - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at Wall Street Zen from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report issued on Saturday.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Atara Biotherapeutics in a report on Friday, March 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $13.00 price target on Atara Biotherapeutics and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Atara Biotherapeutics presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $9.50.

Atara Biotherapeutics Stock Down 0.1%

ATRA stock opened at $9.58 on Friday. Atara Biotherapeutics has a twelve month low of $3.92 and a twelve month high of $19.15. The stock's 50 day moving average is $5.75 and its 200-day moving average is $9.12. The firm has a market capitalization of $86.32 million, a PE ratio of -14.30 and a beta of -0.30.

Atara Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:ATRA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 12th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.29) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.33) by $0.04. The business had revenue of $0.52 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 million. Atara Biotherapeutics had a negative return on equity of 79.12% and a negative net margin of 40.91%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Atara Biotherapeutics will post 0.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Innovation Ltd Panacea sold 313,446 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.10, for a total transaction of $3,165,804.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,011,000 shares in the company, valued at $10,211,100. The trade was a 23.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 41.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Atara Biotherapeutics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATRA. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Atara Biotherapeutics during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in Atara Biotherapeutics during the fourth quarter worth about $181,000. Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new position in Atara Biotherapeutics during the fourth quarter worth about $220,000. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new position in Atara Biotherapeutics during the second quarter worth about $327,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd grew its position in Atara Biotherapeutics by 22.8% during the fourth quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 20,321 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $368,000 after buying an additional 3,779 shares in the last quarter. 70.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

More Atara Biotherapeutics News

Here are the key news stories impacting Atara Biotherapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: An analyst raised Atara Biotherapeutics’ price target by 25% to $11.90, which can signal improved expectations for the stock’s outlook. Atara Biotherapeutics (ATRA) price target increased by 25.00% to 11.90
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple law firms announced or reiterated class action lawsuits and lead-plaintiff deadlines for investors who bought ATRA shares between May 20, 2024 and January 9, 2026. These updates keep the legal situation in focus, but they do not by themselves resolve the case or quantify the financial impact. Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Certain Officers - ATRA
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional firms, including Rosen and Faruqi & Faruqi, reminded investors about the May 22 lead-plaintiff deadline, reinforcing that litigation risk remains an overhang. ATARA DEADLINE: ROSEN, A RANKED AND LEADING LAW FIRM, Encourages Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - ATRA
• Negative Sentiment: A new securities class action has been filed against Atara Biotherapeutics and certain officers, alleging violations of federal securities laws and seeking damages on behalf of investors. This can pressure the stock by increasing legal uncertainty and potential settlement costs. Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. and Certain Officers - ATRA
• Negative Sentiment: TipRanks highlighted manufacturing and supply-chain risks threatening Atara’s cell therapy pipeline, adding to concerns around execution and commercialization. Manufacturing and Supply-Chain Risks Threaten Atara Biotherapeutics’ Cell Therapy Pipeline

About Atara Biotherapeutics

Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel T-cell immunotherapies to transform the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, Atara leverages its proprietary off-the-shelf allogeneic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-directed T-cell platform to generate engineered cell therapies designed to target EBV-driven malignancies and immune-mediated disorders.

The company's lead product candidate, tabelecleucel, is an off-the-shelf, EBV-specific T-cell therapy in clinical development for the treatment of EBV-positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) and other EBV-associated cancers.

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