BTIG Research Boosts Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ:DNLI) Price Target to $38.00

Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ:DNLI) had its target price lifted by equities researchers at BTIG Research from $36.00 to $38.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the stock. BTIG Research’s price objective would indicate a potential upside of 92.50% from the stock’s current price.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on DNLI. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Denali Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 23rd. They set a “peer perform” rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $40.00 target price on shares of Denali Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Wedbush reduced their price target on Denali Therapeutics from $31.00 to $30.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. UBS Group began coverage on Denali Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, HC Wainwright upped their price objective on Denali Therapeutics from $32.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $34.82.

Denali Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ:DNLI opened at $19.74 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $20.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $17.81. Denali Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $10.57 and a 1-year high of $23.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 9.16 and a quick ratio of 9.16. The firm has a market cap of $3.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.65 and a beta of 1.02.

Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ:DNLI) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.73) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.75) by $0.02. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.67) EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Denali Therapeutics will post -2.71 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Denali Therapeutics news, insider Alexander O. Schuth sold 17,218 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.50, for a total value of $284,097.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 282,828 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,666,662. This trade represents a 5.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan J. Watts sold 35,198 shares of Denali Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.50, for a total transaction of $580,767.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 296,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,897,744.50. The trade was a 10.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 12.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Denali Therapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Foresite Capital Management VI LLC acquired a new position in shares of Denali Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth $14,520,000. AlphaQuest LLC grew its stake in Denali Therapeutics by 224.1% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 74,422 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,081,000 after acquiring an additional 51,458 shares during the last quarter. Aberdeen Group plc increased its holdings in Denali Therapeutics by 23.4% during the 3rd quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 1,113,586 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,169,000 after acquiring an additional 210,835 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Denali Therapeutics by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,271,190 shares of the company’s stock valued at $18,458,000 after acquiring an additional 198,207 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP raised its position in Denali Therapeutics by 677.8% during the third quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 3,135,712 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,531,000 after acquiring an additional 2,732,540 shares during the last quarter. 92.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Denali Therapeutics News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: FDA accelerated approval of AVLAYAH (tividenofusp alfa‑eknm), Denali’s first commercial drug and the first transferrin‑receptor (brain‑penetrant) biologic for Hunter syndrome; approval includes a Rare Pediatric Disease PRV and Denali is launching U.S. commercialization and patient support services. GlobeNewswire: DNLI FDA Approval Zacks: Denali Wins FDA Nod
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple brokerages boosted price targets and ratings today (Morgan Stanley to $42/overweight; Goldman Sachs to $40/buy; Stifel to $41/buy; BTIG, HC Wainwright, Baird also raised targets), signaling strong analyst conviction about AVLAYAH’s commercial and platform upside. Benzinga: Analyst Coverage Roundup
• Neutral Sentiment: Management hosted/announced a conference call and webcast to discuss approval and launch plans; an investor webcast and Seeking Alpha transcript provide additional color on commercialization timing, pricing strategy and the COMPASS confirmatory trial. Seeking Alpha: AVLAYAH Launch Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: The FDA approval is accelerated and based on a biomarker (CSF heparan sulfate); continued approval may be contingent on confirmatory Phase 2/3 COMPASS trial results — this creates execution and regulatory risk that could weigh on the stock if confirmatory data are delayed or mixed. GlobeNewswire: Approval Details & Risks
• Negative Sentiment: Reports show recent insider sales and significant institutional portfolio moves (large reductions by some funds reported), which can create near‑term supply pressure and headline risk despite the approval. QuiverQuant: Insider & Institutional Activity

About Denali Therapeutics

Denali Therapeutics is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s research leverages a proprietary Blood–Brain Barrier Transport Vehicle (TV) platform designed to enable large molecules, including antibodies and enzymes, to penetrate the central nervous system. Denali’s approach includes small molecules, monoclonal antibodies and gene therapy candidates aimed at key drivers of disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia.

Among Denali’s lead programs is an orally delivered leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibitor for Parkinson’s disease, and an anti‐TREM2 antibody designed to modulate microglial activity in Alzheimer’s patients.