Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Now Covered by Analysts at TD Cowen

TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) in a report released on Tuesday. The firm set a “buy” rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Friday. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $102.00 to $123.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. BTIG Research raised 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, February 10th. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $105.00 target price on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Monday, December 29th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Nektar Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $136.43.

Nektar Therapeutics Price Performance

NASDAQ:NKTR opened at $72.21 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.08 and a beta of 1.16. The business has a 50 day moving average of $54.06 and a 200 day moving average of $53.70. Nektar Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $6.45 and a 1-year high of $77.00.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 12th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.78) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.69) by $0.91. The firm had revenue of $21.81 million for 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, sell-side analysts anticipate that Nektar Therapeutics will post -0.72 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Nektar Therapeutics news, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 3,867 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total transaction of $137,935.89. Following the transaction, the insider directly 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 423 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total transaction of $30,879.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 75,489 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,510,697. This trade represents a 0.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 4,470 shares of company stock valued at $181,955. 3.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Nektar Therapeutics by 336.9% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 3,640,851 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,463,000 after buying an additional 2,807,595 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in shares of Nektar Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $68,000. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 23.3% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 221,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $151,000 after purchasing an additional 41,948 shares during the period. Stonepine Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Nektar Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,297,000. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP bought a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $367,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.88% of the company’s stock.

Nektar Therapeutics News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: H.C. Wainwright’s Arthur He (CFA) reaffirmed a Buy on NKTR, citing rezpeg clinical momentum and a strong cash runway that improve the risk/reward profile. Nektar Therapeutics: Rezpeg Clinical Momentum and Strong Cash Runway Underscore Attractive Risk‑Reward at Current Levels
• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen initiated a Buy (Marc Frahm), pointing to rezpeg’s blockbuster potential in atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata — reinforcing bullish expectations for future revenue if clinical/commercial execution holds. Buy Rating on Nektar Driven by Rezpeg’s Blockbuster Potential in Atopic Dermatitis and Alopecia Areata
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup bumped its price target sharply to $123 (from $102) and kept a Buy — a material upside to the current trading level that may attract momentum buyers and re-rate sentiment among institutional investors. Benzinga
• Neutral Sentiment: A Zacks summary highlights a Wall Street average price-target implying ~77% upside for NKTR, reflecting broad analyst optimism but hinging on successful rezpeg commercialization and execution — not a guaranteed move. Wall Street Analysts See a 77.28% Upside in Nektar (NKTR)
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms (Rosen, Faruqi & Faruqi, DJS, Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, etc.) have filed or solicited plaintiffs in securities class-action claims against Nektar covering Feb. 26, 2025–Dec. 15, 2025; the May 5, 2026 deadline to move for lead-plaintiff status is a near-term legal overhang that could increase volatility and litigation risk. ROSEN, NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS, Encourages Nektar Therapeutics Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – NKTR

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.