Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for NKTR Earnings

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) – Zacks Research increased their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Nektar Therapeutics in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, January 29th. Zacks Research analyst K. Das now forecasts that the biopharmaceutical company will post earnings per share of ($0.21) for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of ($0.22). The consensus estimate for Nektar Therapeutics’ current full-year earnings is ($0.72) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Nektar Therapeutics’ Q2 2025 earnings at ($0.21) EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at ($0.20) EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at ($0.21) EPS, FY2025 earnings at ($0.84) EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at ($0.21) EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at ($0.22) EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at ($0.22) EPS and FY2026 earnings at ($0.86) EPS.

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.18) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.23) by $0.05. Nektar Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 180.70% and a negative return on equity of 173.28%. The firm had revenue of $24.12 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.54 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.19) EPS.

NKTR has been the subject of several other research reports. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $6.50 price target on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Monday, January 13th. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, November 4th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $7.00 price target on the stock. Finally, B. Riley started coverage on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $4.00 price objective for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $4.08.

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Down 3.7 %

Shares of NKTR stock opened at $0.78 on Monday. Nektar Therapeutics has a 12 month low of $0.54 and a 12 month high of $1.93. The firm has a market cap of $143.66 million, a PE ratio of -0.93 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $0.97 and a 200-day moving average of $1.16.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 46,995 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.01, for a total transaction of $47,464.95. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,195,710 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,207,667.10. This represents a 3.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Mark Andrew Wilson sold 33,402 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $0.90, for a total transaction of $30,061.80. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 351,892 shares in the company, valued at $316,702.80. This trade represents a 8.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 155,575 shares of company stock valued at $149,878. 3.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 56.1% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 4,659,469 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $5,778,000 after acquiring an additional 1,674,924 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in Nektar Therapeutics by 30.4% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 95,637 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $124,000 after purchasing an additional 22,285 shares during the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 650,841 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $846,000 after purchasing an additional 34,599 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Valence8 US LP bought a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.88% of the company’s stock.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing medicines in the field of immunotherapy in the United States and internationally. The company is developing rezpegaldesleukin, a cytokine Treg stimulant that is in phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and ulcerative colitis, as well as phase 2b clinical trial to treat atopic dermatitis and psoriasis; and NKTR-255, an IL-15 receptor agonist, which is in phase 1 clinical trial to boost the immune system's natural ability to fight cancer.