Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Rating Increased to Hold at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Nektar from a "sell" to a "hold," while the broader analyst community remains positive (9 Buys, 1 Hold, 1 Sell) with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $128.13.
• Nektar reported Q1 EPS of ($1.78) beating estimates by $0.91 and revenue of $21.81M versus $10.44M, and the stock opened at $77.50 (near its 12‑month high) with a market cap of about $2.22 billion despite continued unprofitability.
• Multiple class‑action filings and lead‑plaintiff solicitations have been announced, increasing litigation risk and the potential for near‑term selling pressure or settlement exposure.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR - Get Free Report) was upgraded by Wall Street Zen from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

NKTR has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Wedbush began coverage on Nektar Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. William Blair raised Nektar Therapeutics from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. BTIG Research upped their price target on Nektar Therapeutics from $118.00 to $151.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, B. Riley Financial restated a "buy" rating and set a $150.00 price objective (up from $105.00) on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Nektar Therapeutics has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $128.13.

Nektar Therapeutics Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of NKTR stock opened at $77.50 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $67.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $57.47. Nektar Therapeutics has a twelve month low of $7.92 and a twelve month high of $78.95. The company has a market capitalization of $2.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.60 and a beta of 1.16.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 12th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.78) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($2.69) by $0.91. The firm had revenue of $21.81 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.44 million. Nektar Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 297.07% and a negative return on equity of 386.16%. As a group, research analysts predict that Nektar Therapeutics will post -0.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 423 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total value of $30,879.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 75,489 shares in the company, valued at $5,510,697. This trade represents a 0.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 3,867 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total value of $137,935.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 21,354 shares of the company's stock, valued at $761,697.18. This trade represents a 15.33% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 4,470 shares of company stock valued at $181,955 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 5.25% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust purchased a new stake in Nektar Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth about $13,269,000. Simplify Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 67.6% during the 3rd quarter. Simplify Asset Management Inc. now owns 87,174 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $4,960,000 after purchasing an additional 35,176 shares in the last quarter. Emerald Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $18,393,000. Farallon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Nektar Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at $45,008,000. Finally, Moody Aldrich Partners LLC raised its position in Nektar Therapeutics by 62.3% in the 3rd quarter. Moody Aldrich Partners LLC now owns 73,716 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $4,194,000 after purchasing an additional 28,304 shares during the last quarter. 75.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Nektar Therapeutics

Here are the key news stories impacting Nektar Therapeutics this week:

• Neutral Sentiment: Nektar has been assigned an average analyst rating of "Moderate Buy," which supports longer‑term upside but doesn't offset near‑term legal concerns. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman announces a class action filed against Nektar and certain officers covering the Feb. 26, 2025–Dec. 25, 2025 period — an active filing that formalizes investor claims and could lead to litigation expense and distraction. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: The Gross Law Firm issued a shareholder alert inviting investors with losses to join a securities class action — another solicitation that underscores multiple simultaneous suits. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Faruqi & Faruqi reminds investors of the May 5, 2026 deadline to seek lead‑plaintiff status and is actively soliciting those who purchased NKTR during the class period — deadline reminders tend to concentrate selling near-term. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple other firms (Rosen, Pomerantz, Bragar Eagel & Squire, Schall, Bernstein Liebhard, Rosen Global, Rosen Law Firm notices) have either filed suits or issued lead‑plaintiff solicitations covering the same class period, intensifying litigation risk and potential settlement exposure. Representative filings/alerts: Pomerantz and Bragar. Read More. | Read More.

Nektar Therapeutics Company Profile

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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