Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Coverage Initiated at TD Cowen

Investment analysts at TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) in a research note issued on Tuesday. The firm set a “buy” rating on the biopharmaceutical company’s stock.

NKTR has been the subject of several other research reports. William Blair upgraded shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. 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. HC Wainwright raised their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Finally, B. Riley Financial reissued a “buy” rating and set a $150.00 target price (up from $105.00) on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $136.43.

Nektar Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ NKTR opened at $72.21 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a PE ratio of -7.08 and a beta of 1.16. Nektar Therapeutics has a one year low of $6.45 and a one year high of $77.00. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $54.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $53.70.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 12th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.78) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.69) by $0.91. Nektar Therapeutics had a negative return on equity of 386.16% and a negative net margin of 297.07%.The company had revenue of $21.81 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.44 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that Nektar Therapeutics will post -0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Nektar Therapeutics news, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 423 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total value of $30,879.00. Following the sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 3,867 shares of Nektar Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total value of $137,935.89. Following the sale, the insider owned 21,354 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $761,697.18. This trade represents a 15.33% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 4,470 shares of company stock worth $181,955. Insiders own 3.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of 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 last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth $65,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the first quarter worth $68,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the fourth quarter valued at $85,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at $88,000. 75.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Nektar Therapeutics

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

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.