Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) have earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nine research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $119.8571.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. William Blair raised Nektar Therapeutics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Nektar Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, November 16th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, HC Wainwright lifted their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th.

Nektar Therapeutics News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple multi‑quarter and full‑year EPS projections (FY2026 and FY2027 were revised to smaller losses), indicating improved analyst expectations for Nektar’s future results — a generally constructive signal for the stock. MarketBeat NKTR
• Positive Sentiment: Nektar announced research collaboration with UCSF to test a TNFR2‑agonist/antibody approach in multiple sclerosis — a meaningful pipeline development that could add long‑term value if clinical data are positive. MSNewsToday: UCSF, Nektar team BioWorld: TNFR2 agonism in MS
• Neutral Sentiment: An AAII piece compared Nektar to another biotech (Harmony Biosciences) as an investment choice — useful context for longer‑term investors but unlikely to move the stock materially on its own. AAII comparison article
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut near‑term quarter estimates for Q2 2026 (and separately trimmed Q2 2027), signaling some expected near‑term pressure to results that can weigh on sentiment. MarketBeat NKTR

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NASDAQ:NKTR opened at $73.73 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $1.50 billion, a PE ratio of -9.25 and a beta of 1.34. Nektar Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $6.45 and a fifty-two week high of $74.89. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.72.

Insider Activity

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 stock was sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total transaction of $137,935.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 21,354 shares in the company, valued at approximately $761,697.18. The trade was a 15.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Mark Andrew Wilson sold 630 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.28, for a total value of $34,196.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 21,585 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,171,633.80. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 8,464 shares of company stock valued at $398,749. Insiders own 3.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Nektar Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 93.8% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 434 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in Nektar Therapeutics during the second quarter worth approximately $39,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Nektar Therapeutics in the second quarter worth approximately $65,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new position in Nektar Therapeutics during the 1st quarter valued at $68,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at $85,000. 75.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.