BTIG Research Issues Positive Forecast for Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Stock Price

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) had its target price lifted by BTIG Research from $118.00 to $151.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock.

NKTR has been the subject of several other reports. Citigroup began coverage on Nektar Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $102.00 price target for the company. William Blair upgraded shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, November 16th. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $120.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $119.86.

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Up 51.1%

Shares of NKTR stock opened at $56.00 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $1.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.03 and a beta of 1.34. Nektar Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $6.45 and a 52-week high of $66.92. The company’s 50 day moving average is $43.34 and its 200 day moving average is $45.96.

Insider Activity

In other Nektar Therapeutics news, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 3,867 shares of Nektar Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total transaction of $137,935.89. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 21,354 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $761,697.18. The trade was a 15.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 2,207 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.28, for a total value of $119,795.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 54,245 shares in the company, valued at $2,944,418.60. This represents a 3.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 7,861 shares of company stock valued at $354,730 over the last ninety days. 3.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of NKTR. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in Nektar Therapeutics by 93.8% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 434 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $65,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the first quarter worth $68,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Nektar Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at $88,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.88% of the company’s stock.

Nektar Therapeutics News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: REZOLVE‑AD maintenance data show durable and new responses (high maintenance rates for EASI‑75 and vIGA‑AD 0/1, increases in EASI‑100 at week 52) and a favorable safety profile; management says results validate the T‑reg mechanism and support advancement to pivotal Phase 3. PR Newswire: Rezolve‑AD Maintenance Data
• Positive Sentiment: Management discussed topline maintenance results on a conference call and in a Seeking Alpha transcript, providing additional color that appears to have reassured investors about durability and both monthly and quarterly dosing options. Seeking Alpha: REZOLVE‑AD Transcript
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts moved bullish: BTIG and HC Wainwright raised price targets substantially (to $151 and $165, respectively) and William Blair upgraded NKTR to outperform — these notes amplify upside conviction and likely prompted buying. Benzinga: Analyst Coverage TickerReport: William Blair Upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Wide media and market coverage (Tokenist, MarketWatch, MSN, Benzinga) has amplified visibility and momentum, contributing to heavy volume and large call option buying earlier in the session. Tokenist: Why NKTR Is Up
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually large options activity (several thousand calls bought) and very high share volume indicate speculative positioning and short‑term momentum; this can amplify moves but also increase volatility. (No link)
• Neutral Sentiment: NKTR appeared on “top gainer” lists and trending stock stories, reflecting momentum rather than new fundamental change. InvestorIdeas: Top Gainer
• Negative Sentiment: Nektar announced a proposed $300M underwritten public offering of common stock (and pre‑funded warrants for some investors). That raises dilution risk and could cap gains unless used to fund Phase 3 programs or other value‑creating activities. PR Newswire: Proposed Public Offering

About Nektar Therapeutics

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.