Exact Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ:EXAS) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Exact Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ:EXAS) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the twenty-six brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $85.00.

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Exact Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a “hold” rating and set a $105.00 price objective (up previously from $80.00) on shares of Exact Sciences in a research report on Friday, November 28th. BTIG Research downgraded shares of Exact Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, November 20th. Baird R W lowered shares of Exact Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Exact Sciences from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 6th.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director James Edward Doyle sold 2,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $120,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 57,962 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,477,720. The trade was a 3.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Jacob A. Orville sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total value of $375,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 23,237 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,742,775. This represents a 17.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 9,858 shares of company stock worth $695,289. Insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Exact Sciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Exact Sciences by 5.0% during the third quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 2,517 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank increased its position in shares of Exact Sciences by 9.2% in the third quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 1,954 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $107,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares in the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Exact Sciences by 3.7% during the first quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 4,971 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $215,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the period. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Exact Sciences by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,941 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $216,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV lifted its position in shares of Exact Sciences by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV now owns 22,432 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $971,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.82% of the company’s stock.

Exact Sciences Stock Performance

EXAS opened at $101.59 on Wednesday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $83.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $62.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 2.72 and a quick ratio of 2.44. The company has a market capitalization of $19.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.42. Exact Sciences has a 1-year low of $38.81 and a 1-year high of $102.66.

Exact Sciences (NASDAQ:EXAS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 3rd. The medical research company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $850.74 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $810.42 million. Exact Sciences had a positive return on equity of 1.67% and a negative net margin of 32.01%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 20.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.21) EPS. Research analysts predict that Exact Sciences will post -0.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Exact Sciences

Exact Sciences Corporation is a molecular diagnostics company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, dedicated to the early detection and prevention of cancer. The company’s flagship product, Cologuard®, is a noninvasive, stool-based DNA screening test for colorectal cancer that was developed in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. By combining DNA mutation analysis with hemoglobin detection, Cologuard aims to improve screening adherence and identify cancers and precancerous lesions in average-risk adults.

Since its founding in 1995, Exact Sciences has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and internal research and development.