Street Calls of the Week
Investing.com - BTIG raised its price target on Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) to $210 from $200 on Thursday, while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock following positive clinical trial results in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The stock, currently trading at $191.97, has delivered an impressive 53% return over the past year and is trading near its 52-week high of $187.34.
The upgrade comes after Natera’s call with the lead principal investigator of the IMvigor011 trial, a randomized, double-blind, phase III study that was recently presented at a Presidential Symposium at ESMO in Berlin and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. According to InvestingPro data, Natera maintains a "GREAT" overall financial health score, with particularly strong momentum metrics.
BTIG highlighted that Natera demonstrated statistically significant improvement in both disease-free survival and overall survival in MIBC patients, while also validating its "treatment on molecular relapse" concept that could potentially be applied to various cancer types.
The research firm noted the study showed utility with up to seven test timepoints in the first year, which exceeds the four timepoints demonstrated in previous colorectal cancer studies, and demonstrated that the adjuvant treatment window can be extended to one year post-surgery.
BTIG reiterated that Natera remains a "Top Pick" in its coverage universe, citing the principal investigator’s belief that the IMvigor011 trial demonstrated Level 1 evidence for guideline bodies such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Investors should note that Natera’s next earnings report is scheduled for November 5th. For deeper insights into Natera’s valuation and growth prospects, check out the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro, which includes detailed analysis and 12 additional ProTips.
In other recent news, Natera has been active with several developments that are capturing investor attention. The company announced it will present 14 abstracts at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025, reinforcing its leadership in molecular residual disease testing. In parallel, Natera has enrolled over 1,600 patients in its EXPAND trial, which evaluates its Fetal Focus noninvasive prenatal test. This study aims to confirm test results through diagnostic testing and involves a diverse patient population.
Natera’s Signatera test has shown promising results in multiple studies. It significantly outperformed standard tumor markers in predicting outcomes for testicular cancer patients, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology - Precision Oncology. Additionally, the test demonstrated strong results for monitoring recurrence and treatment response in early-stage uterine cancer patients.
On the analyst front, Canaccord Genuity maintained a Buy rating with a $200 price target for Natera, highlighting its MRD leadership. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo resumed coverage with an Equal Weight rating and a $175 price target, citing the company’s strong position in cell-free DNA testing technology. These developments underscore Natera’s active role in advancing its testing capabilities across various medical fields.
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