Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS) Reaches New 12-Month Low After Analyst Downgrade

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday after The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on the stock from $58.00 to $41.00. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock. Ionis Pharmaceuticals traded as low as $32.01 and last traded at $31.7520, with a volume of 477,866 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $39.42.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Bank of America restated a “buy” rating on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $88.00 price target on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $54.00 to $66.00 in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Nineteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $78.00.

Insider Transactions at Ionis Pharmaceuticals

In other Ionis Pharmaceuticals news, EVP Shannon Devers sold 1,357 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.54, for a total transaction of $59,083.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 17,811 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $775,490.94. This trade represents a 7.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. 1.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

More Ionis Pharmaceuticals News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ionis Pharmaceuticals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue rose 54.8% year over year to $242.7 million, beating expectations, while the loss per share was narrower than analysts forecast. Ionis Pharmaceuticals Reports 55% Rise in Q3 Revenue
• Positive Sentiment: Despite cutting targets, Morgan Stanley, Oppenheimer, HC Wainwright and Needham retained overweight, outperform or buy ratings. Piper Sandler also issued a buy rating, suggesting some analysts continue to see recovery potential. Oppenheimer Adjusts Price Target, Maintains Outperform Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts lowered price targets, including Goldman Sachs to $41 with a neutral rating and Oppenheimer to $70 while maintaining outperform. These cuts reflect reduced expectations, although the new targets remain above the quoted share price. Ionis Stock at a 52-Week Low
• Negative Sentiment: The main setback was TRYNGOLZA: Ionis cut its 2026 sales outlook to about $50 million from its prior $100–$110 million forecast, citing slower uptake and competitive pressure. Full-year revenue guidance of $875–$900 million also came in below analyst consensus, fueling concerns about the drug’s launch and the company’s growth outlook. Ionis Slashes Key Drug Revenue Outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms announced investigations into potential securities claims following the outlook reduction. These notices may add headline risk but do not themselves establish wrongdoing or a lawsuit outcome. Investor Investigation Announcement

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in IONS. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Ionis Pharmaceuticals during the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Ionis Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC boosted its stake in Ionis Pharmaceuticals by 4,411.8% in the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 767 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP purchased a new position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals in the second quarter worth $41,000. 93.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 10.4%

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $45.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $65.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.07, a current ratio of 7.89 and a quick ratio of 7.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.61 billion, a PE ratio of -8.36 and a beta of 0.43.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IONS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 9th. The company reported ($0.66) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($1.23) by $0.57. Ionis Pharmaceuticals had a negative return on equity of 115.54% and a negative net margin of 56.98%. The firm had revenue of $242.72 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $178.17 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($0.80) EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 54.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post -3.62 EPS for the current year.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Ionis Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops RNA-targeted medicines, with a focus on antisense oligonucleotides. Its medicines are designed to act on RNA and change the production of proteins linked to disease. The company’s research and development programs span neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic and rare diseases. Ionis has developed medicines that it commercializes itself and products advanced or marketed with pharmaceutical partners. Its medicines and partnered products include treatments for conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy and transthyretin amyloidosis.