Crescent Biopharma (NASDAQ:CBIO) Shares Up 8.3% – Should You Buy?

Crescent Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBIO) shot up 8.3% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $19.33 and last traded at $19.5750. 71,788 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 223,639 shares. The stock had previously closed at $18.07.

Crescent Biopharma News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Crescent Biopharma this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Piper Sandler initiated/issued a Buy on CBIO, providing dealer support and demand for the shares. Crescent Biopharma (CBIO) Receives a Buy from Piper Sandler
• Positive Sentiment: Wedbush reiterated a Buy on CBIO, another vote of confidence from research that can support buying interest. Wedbush Remains a Buy on Crescent Biopharma (CBIO)
• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright continues to rate CBIO a Buy with a $22 price target, providing upside guidance relative to current levels. MarketBeat CBIO Research Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Crescent management is scheduled to present at the BofA Securities 2026 Healthcare Conference (May 13), which can increase analyst/investor attention and potentially catalyze volatility around upcoming news. Crescent Biopharma to Present at May Investor Conferences
• Negative Sentiment: HC Wainwright trimmed several near‑term and FY EPS estimates (small cuts to Q2/Q3 2026 and larger FY2026→FY2027 loss projections, including FY2027 to ($4.71) EPS), which increases the downside risk profile and may pressure the stock despite the Buy rating. MarketBeat: HC Wainwright Estimates for CBIO

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CBIO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings lowered Crescent Biopharma from a “sell (e+)” rating to a “sell (e)” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Crescent Biopharma in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Guggenheim began coverage on Crescent Biopharma in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. They set a “buy” rating and a $35.00 price objective for the company. Stifel Nicolaus set a $29.00 target price on Crescent Biopharma in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, HC Wainwright decreased their target price on shares of Crescent Biopharma from $25.00 to $22.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $28.00.

Crescent Biopharma Trading Down 0.1%

The company’s 50-day moving average is $16.41 and its 200 day moving average is $13.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $497.73 million, a PE ratio of -1.66 and a beta of 1.21.

Crescent Biopharma (NASDAQ:CBIO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.70) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.85) by $0.15. The company had revenue of $1.04 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $0.36 million. Sell-side analysts forecast that Crescent Biopharma, Inc. will post -3.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Crescent Biopharma

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CBIO. OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp purchased a new position in shares of Crescent Biopharma during the fourth quarter worth $138,000. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in Crescent Biopharma during the 2nd quarter worth about $149,000. HRT Financial LP purchased a new position in shares of Crescent Biopharma during the 4th quarter valued at about $155,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Crescent Biopharma in the 4th quarter valued at about $157,000. Finally, Cannon Global Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Crescent Biopharma in the first quarter worth about $187,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.19% of the company’s stock.

About Crescent Biopharma

Crescent Biopharma, Inc (NASDAQ: CBIO) is a clinical‐stage immuno‐oncology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for patients with solid tumors. The company’s research strategy centers on combination approaches that enhance anti‐tumor immune responses by simultaneously targeting multiple pathways implicated in immune evasion and tumor growth.

The company’s lead candidate, CPB-201, is a bifunctional fusion protein designed to block programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) while neutralizing transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), with the goal of restoring T-cell activity and reducing tumor fibrosis.