Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Forecast for NKTR Earnings

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) – Research analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q2 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a report released on Wednesday, February 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the biopharmaceutical company will post earnings of ($2.72) per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of ($2.63). The consensus estimate for Nektar Therapeutics’ current full-year earnings is ($0.72) per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Nektar Therapeutics’ Q3 2026 earnings at ($2.56) EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at ($4.11) EPS, FY2026 earnings at ($11.90) EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at ($3.15) EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at ($3.32) EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at ($3.17) EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at ($4.93) EPS and FY2027 earnings at ($14.57) EPS.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on NKTR. BTIG Research increased their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $118.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock a “buy” 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. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Nektar Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $102.00 price target on the stock. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on shares of Nektar Therapeutics from $135.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, William Blair upgraded Nektar Therapeutics from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Nektar Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $119.86.

Nektar Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:NKTR opened at $73.73 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $45.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $48.54. The stock has a market cap of $1.50 billion, a PE ratio of -9.25 and a beta of 1.34. Nektar Therapeutics has a one year low of $6.45 and a one year high of $74.89.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nektar Therapeutics

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in shares of Nektar Therapeutics by 93.8% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 434 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $39,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $65,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Nektar Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at approximately $68,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Nektar Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $85,000. 75.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Nektar Therapeutics

In related news, CEO Howard W. Robin sold 423 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total transaction of $30,879.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 75,489 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,510,697. The trade was a 0.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathan Zalevsky sold 3,867 shares of Nektar Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.67, for a total transaction of $137,935.89. Following the sale, the insider owned 21,354 shares in the company, valued at $761,697.18. This represents a 15.33% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 8,464 shares of company stock worth $398,749. Corporate insiders own 5.25% of the company’s stock.

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

About Nektar Therapeutics

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.