Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Given New $165.00 Price Target at HC Wainwright

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) had its price target raised by HC Wainwright from $135.00 to $165.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. HC Wainwright currently has a buy rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Sunday, November 16th. William Blair raised shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $105.00 price target on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, January 26th. BTIG Research upped their price objective on Nektar Therapeutics from $118.00 to $151.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $102.00 target price for the company. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $119.86.

Nektar Therapeutics Trading Up 51.1%

NKTR opened at $56.00 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $43.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.96. The stock has a market cap of $1.14 billion, a PE ratio of -7.03 and a beta of 1.34. Nektar Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $6.45 and a 1 year high of $66.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Mark Andrew Wilson sold 630 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.28, for a total value of $34,196.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 21,585 shares in the company, valued at $1,171,633.80. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at 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 in the company, valued at $761,697.18. The trade was a 15.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 7,861 shares of company stock worth $354,730 in the last three months. Insiders own 3.71% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in NKTR. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in Nektar Therapeutics by 93.8% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 434 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Nektar Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Nektar Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at about $88,000. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 1,741.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,565 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 1,480 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $96,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.88% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Nektar Therapeutics

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

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.