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Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) Competitors

Nektar Therapeutics logo
$74.86 -1.62 (-2.12%)
As of 08/10/2026 04:00 PM Eastern

NKTR vs. CYTK, NUVL, KRYS, SYRE, and IONS

Should you buy Nektar Therapeutics stock or one of its competitors? Nektar Therapeutics's main competitors and comparable companies include Cytokinetics (CYTK), Nuvalent (NUVL), Krystal Biotech (KRYS), Spyre Therapeutics (SYRE), and Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "biotechnology" industry.

How does Nektar Therapeutics compare to Cytokinetics?

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) and Cytokinetics (NASDAQ:CYTK) are both mid-cap healthcare companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, media sentiment, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends and profitability.

75.9% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 2.5% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.6% of Cytokinetics shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Nektar Therapeutics has a beta of 1.14, meaning that its share price is 14% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cytokinetics has a beta of 0.39, meaning that its share price is 61% less volatile than the broader market.

Nektar Therapeutics has a net margin of -284.18% compared to Cytokinetics' net margin of -1,321.12%. Cytokinetics' return on equity of 0.00% beat Nektar Therapeutics' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Nektar Therapeutics-284.18% -85.40% -39.99%
Cytokinetics -1,321.12%N/A -51.01%

Nektar Therapeutics has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Cytokinetics. Cytokinetics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nektar Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Nektar Therapeutics$55.23M45.80-$164.08M-$8.42N/A
Cytokinetics$88.04M109.52-$784.96M-$7.22N/A

Nektar Therapeutics presently has a consensus target price of $150.00, suggesting a potential upside of 100.37%. Cytokinetics has a consensus target price of $101.15, suggesting a potential upside of 30.53%. Given Nektar Therapeutics' higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Nektar Therapeutics is more favorable than Cytokinetics.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75
Cytokinetics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
18 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.90

In the previous week, Cytokinetics had 24 more articles in the media than Nektar Therapeutics. MarketBeat recorded 25 mentions for Cytokinetics and 1 mentions for Nektar Therapeutics. Nektar Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.76 beat Cytokinetics' score of 0.86 indicating that Nektar Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive
Cytokinetics
8 Very Positive mention(s)
3 Positive mention(s)
9 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Summary

Cytokinetics beats Nektar Therapeutics on 9 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Nektar Therapeutics compare to Nuvalent?

Nuvalent (NASDAQ:NUVL) and Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) are both mid-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their media sentiment, earnings, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, risk and analyst recommendations.

Nuvalent presently has a consensus target price of $127.73, suggesting a potential upside of 3.04%. Nektar Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $150.00, suggesting a potential upside of 100.37%. Given Nektar Therapeutics' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Nektar Therapeutics is more favorable than Nuvalent.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Nuvalent
1 Sell rating(s)
15 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.15
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75

Nuvalent has a net margin of 0.00% compared to Nektar Therapeutics' net margin of -284.18%. Nuvalent's return on equity of -40.11% beat Nektar Therapeutics' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
NuvalentN/A -40.11% -35.43%
Nektar Therapeutics -284.18%-85.40%-39.99%

Nuvalent has a beta of 1.14, suggesting that its share price is 14% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Nektar Therapeutics has a beta of 1.14, suggesting that its share price is 14% more volatile than the broader market.

Nektar Therapeutics has higher revenue and earnings than Nuvalent. Nuvalent is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nektar Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
NuvalentN/AN/A-$425.38M-$6.06N/A
Nektar Therapeutics$55.23M45.80-$164.08M-$8.42N/A

In the previous week, Nektar Therapeutics had 1 more articles in the media than Nuvalent. MarketBeat recorded 1 mentions for Nektar Therapeutics and 0 mentions for Nuvalent. Nektar Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.76 beat Nuvalent's score of 0.00 indicating that Nektar Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Nuvalent Neutral
Nektar Therapeutics Very Positive

97.3% of Nuvalent shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.9% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.0% of Nuvalent shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Nektar Therapeutics beats Nuvalent on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Nektar Therapeutics compare to Krystal Biotech?

Krystal Biotech (NASDAQ:KRYS) and Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) are both mid-cap healthcare companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, dividends and profitability.

Krystal Biotech has higher revenue and earnings than Nektar Therapeutics. Nektar Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Krystal Biotech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Krystal Biotech$389.13M25.22$204.83M$7.9841.55
Nektar Therapeutics$55.23M45.80-$164.08M-$8.42N/A

In the previous week, Krystal Biotech had 14 more articles in the media than Nektar Therapeutics. MarketBeat recorded 15 mentions for Krystal Biotech and 1 mentions for Nektar Therapeutics. Nektar Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.76 beat Krystal Biotech's score of 0.86 indicating that Nektar Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Krystal Biotech
4 Very Positive mention(s)
3 Positive mention(s)
4 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive

Krystal Biotech presently has a consensus target price of $361.56, suggesting a potential upside of 9.04%. Nektar Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $150.00, suggesting a potential upside of 100.37%. Given Nektar Therapeutics' higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Nektar Therapeutics is more favorable than Krystal Biotech.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Krystal Biotech
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
9 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.92
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75

86.3% of Krystal Biotech shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.9% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 13.1% of Krystal Biotech shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Krystal Biotech has a net margin of 54.82% compared to Nektar Therapeutics' net margin of -284.18%. Krystal Biotech's return on equity of 19.34% beat Nektar Therapeutics' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Krystal Biotech54.82% 19.34% 17.65%
Nektar Therapeutics -284.18%-85.40%-39.99%

Krystal Biotech has a beta of 0.53, meaning that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Nektar Therapeutics has a beta of 1.14, meaning that its stock price is 14% more volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Krystal Biotech beats Nektar Therapeutics on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Nektar Therapeutics compare to Spyre Therapeutics?

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) and Spyre Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SYRE) are both mid-cap healthcare companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, profitability, media sentiment and institutional ownership.

Spyre Therapeutics has a net margin of 0.00% compared to Nektar Therapeutics' net margin of -284.18%. Spyre Therapeutics' return on equity of -30.74% beat Nektar Therapeutics' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Nektar Therapeutics-284.18% -85.40% -39.99%
Spyre Therapeutics N/A -30.74%-22.23%

Nektar Therapeutics presently has a consensus price target of $150.00, indicating a potential upside of 100.37%. Spyre Therapeutics has a consensus price target of $110.15, indicating a potential upside of 4.58%. Given Nektar Therapeutics' higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Nektar Therapeutics is more favorable than Spyre Therapeutics.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75
Spyre Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
12 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.87

75.9% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.4% of Spyre Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 2.5% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 15.7% of Spyre Therapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Spyre Therapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Nektar Therapeutics. Spyre Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nektar Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Nektar Therapeutics$55.23M45.80-$164.08M-$8.42N/A
Spyre Therapeutics$890K10,407.55-$155.20M-$1.95N/A

In the previous week, Spyre Therapeutics had 26 more articles in the media than Nektar Therapeutics. MarketBeat recorded 27 mentions for Spyre Therapeutics and 1 mentions for Nektar Therapeutics. Nektar Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.76 beat Spyre Therapeutics' score of 0.62 indicating that Nektar Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive
Spyre Therapeutics
9 Very Positive mention(s)
5 Positive mention(s)
5 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Nektar Therapeutics has a beta of 1.14, suggesting that its share price is 14% more volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Spyre Therapeutics has a beta of 3.03, suggesting that its share price is 203% more volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Spyre Therapeutics beats Nektar Therapeutics on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Nektar Therapeutics compare to Ionis Pharmaceuticals?

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS) and Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) are both mid-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, media sentiment, earnings, dividends, profitability, valuation and risk.

93.9% of Ionis Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.9% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.8% of Ionis Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Nektar Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a net margin of -64.76% compared to Nektar Therapeutics' net margin of -284.18%. Nektar Therapeutics' return on equity of -85.40% beat Ionis Pharmaceuticals' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Ionis Pharmaceuticals-64.76% -111.08% -17.41%
Nektar Therapeutics -284.18%-85.40%-39.99%

In the previous week, Ionis Pharmaceuticals had 17 more articles in the media than Nektar Therapeutics. MarketBeat recorded 18 mentions for Ionis Pharmaceuticals and 1 mentions for Nektar Therapeutics. Nektar Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.76 beat Ionis Pharmaceuticals' score of 0.19 indicating that Nektar Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Ionis Pharmaceuticals
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
5 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
1 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Very Positive

Nektar Therapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Ionis Pharmaceuticals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nektar Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Ionis Pharmaceuticals$944M10.02-$381.39M-$3.46N/A
Nektar Therapeutics$55.23M45.80-$164.08M-$8.42N/A

Ionis Pharmaceuticals currently has a consensus price target of $94.65, indicating a potential upside of 66.23%. Nektar Therapeutics has a consensus price target of $150.00, indicating a potential upside of 100.37%. Given Nektar Therapeutics' higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Nektar Therapeutics is more favorable than Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Ionis Pharmaceuticals
1 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
18 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.77
Nektar Therapeutics
1 Sell rating(s)
1 Hold rating(s)
10 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.75

Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a beta of 0.41, indicating that its share price is 59% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Nektar Therapeutics has a beta of 1.14, indicating that its share price is 14% more volatile than the broader market.

Summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Nektar Therapeutics tied by winning 8 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding NKTR and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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NKTR vs. The Competition

MetricNektar TherapeuticsBiotechnology IndustryHealthcare SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$2.58B$3.70B$7.02B$12.98B
Dividend YieldN/A3.76%2.58%10.20%
P/E Ratio-8.899.09269.1924.72
Price / Sales45.801,255.18588.7697.80
Price / CashN/A44.9528.8937.42
Price / Book16.9817.6611.276.42
Net Income-$164.08M-$13.25M$3.45B$347.03M
7 Day Performance2.89%3.11%1.92%0.69%
1 Month Performance6.40%-1.68%-0.58%-0.90%
1 Year Performance233.16%61.75%75.49%21.87%

Nektar Therapeutics Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
2.6957 of 5 stars
$74.86
-2.1%
$150.00
+100.4%
+224.6%$2.58B$55.23MN/A220
CYTK
Cytokinetics
3.5083 of 5 stars
$78.85
+0.3%
$99.90
+26.7%
+127.2%$9.81B$88.04MN/A250
NUVL
Nuvalent
1.8516 of 5 stars
$123.96
flat
$127.73
+3.0%
N/A$9.79BN/AN/A40
KRYS
Krystal Biotech
3.854 of 5 stars
$325.78
+0.3%
$361.56
+11.0%
+139.1%$9.60B$389.13M43.55210
SYRE
Spyre Therapeutics
2.2402 of 5 stars
$104.35
-0.6%
$110.15
+5.6%
+594.8%$9.18B$890KN/A73

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This page (NASDAQ:NKTR) was last updated on 8/11/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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