Baird cuts Illumina stock price target to $90 from $127

Published 05/03/2025, 14:00
Baird cuts Illumina stock price target to $90 from $127

On Wednesday, Baird analyst Catherine Ramsey Schulte revised the price target for Illumina shares, traded on (NASDAQ:ILMN), to $90, down from the previous target of $127. The firm maintained a Neutral rating on the stock. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets currently range from $90 to $247, with the stock already down 36.47% year-to-date. The adjustment follows a significant regulatory development from China, where the Ministry of Commerce has banned the import of Illumina’s sequencers into the country.

Schulte’s report noted that Baird has updated its financial model for Illumina to reflect this new restriction. The report highlighted ongoing uncertainties regarding the company’s future prospects, particularly noteworthy given Illumina’s current financial metrics from InvestingPro, including a -2.93% revenue decline in the last twelve months and operating with moderate debt levels. The analyst pointed to various factors contributing to this outlook, including concerns about funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and academic institutions, increasing tensions between China and the United States, and recent competitive challenges in the market.

The reduction in the price target is attributed to these combined pressures, which have led to a lower applied multiple in Baird’s valuation of Illumina’s stock. Despite the lower valuation, the firm’s stance remains neutral, indicating a cautious approach to the stock at this time.

The announcement from China’s Ministry of Commerce presents a new hurdle for Illumina, potentially impacting its business operations and market position. Schulte’s commentary suggests that these developments make it difficult to adopt a more positive view of Illumina’s stock for the time being.

In conclusion, Baird’s update signals a recognition of the headwinds facing Illumina, including geopolitical tensions and competitive dynamics, which are factored into the firm’s revised valuation of the company’s shares.

In other recent news, Illumina is facing significant challenges due to a new import ban from China’s Ministry of Commerce, which has prohibited the import of the company’s genetic sequencers. This development has prompted several analyst firms to reassess their positions on Illumina’s stock. Canaccord Genuity has maintained a Hold rating with a $135 target, noting the potential impact on Illumina’s instrument sales in China, which accounts for less than 10% of its revenue. Barclays (LON:BARC) has reiterated an Underweight rating with a $100 target, expressing concerns about the company’s need to revise its earnings guidance due to the ban.

Evercore ISI remains optimistic, maintaining an Outperform rating with a $160 target, suggesting the stock may stabilize once the market adjusts to the news. Stifel also maintains a Buy rating with a $160 target, highlighting that the ban does not affect the sale of consumables or services, which make up most of Illumina’s Chinese revenue. Wolfe Research continues to rate Illumina as Outperform with a $150 target, despite acknowledging the complexities introduced by the ban and potential delays in earnings forecasts. These recent developments reflect the growing challenges Illumina faces in navigating regulatory and market dynamics in China.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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