Shares of Replimune Group (NASDAQ: REPL) received a significant boost as HC Wainwright upgraded the stock from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report issued to investors on Monday. The firm has set a price target of $12.00 for the stock, signaling a positive outlook for the clinical-stage biotechnology company.
Analyst Expectations and Revisions
Alongside the upgrade, HC Wainwright provided earnings estimates for Replimune Group, projecting a loss of ($0.89) per share for the second quarter of 2026. They anticipate earnings will improve incrementally over the following quarters, with predictions of ($0.82) EPS in Q3 2026, ($0.77) EPS in Q4 2026, and an overall loss of ($3.42) EPS for the fiscal year 2026. By the end of 2027, earnings are expected to further narrow to ($1.94) EPS.
Other analysts have also weighed in on Replimune Group. Barclays downgraded the stock from “overweight” to “equal weight,” lowering its price target from $17.00 to $3.00. Conversely, both Piper Sandler and Wedbush have taken a more favorable stance, with Piper Sandler upgrading from “neutral” to “overweight” and increasing the price target to $13.00, while Wedbush upgraded from “neutral” to “outperform” with a target of $18.00. Currently, the consensus rating for Replimune Group is “Moderate Buy,” with a target price of $9.75 according to data from MarketBeat.
Quarterly Performance and Insider Activity
Replimune Group recently announced its quarterly earnings results on August 7, 2023, reporting a loss of ($0.95) EPS, which fell short of analysts’ expectations of ($0.83) EPS by ($0.12). Analysts are projecting a year-end EPS of ($2.97) for the current fiscal year.
In an interesting development, Emily Luisa Hill, the Chief Financial Officer of Replimune Group, sold 9,154 shares on August 15, realizing a total of approximately $49,157. This sale decreased her holdings by 6.38%, leaving her with 134,368 shares valued at around $721,556. Such transactions are typically disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), ensuring transparency in the market.
Institutional Investor Activity
The ownership structure of Replimune Group reveals significant involvement from institutional investors, who currently hold approximately 92.53% of the stock. Recent trading activity has seen Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increase its position by 20.9% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 119,145 shares, which brought their total holdings to 690,167 shares valued at $6.73 million.
Other institutions have also made notable moves. Exome Asset Management LLC augmented its position by an impressive 438.6%, while Moody Aldrich Partners LLC and Nuveen LLC each established new positions worth approximately $1.93 million and $6.55 million, respectively. This influx of institutional interest reflects confidence in the company’s potential within the biotechnology sector.
Replimune Group focuses on developing innovative oncolytic immunotherapies aimed at treating cancer. Its lead candidate, RP1, is currently undergoing clinical trials for various solid tumors and has shown promise in treating cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
As the company navigates its development path, investor sentiment remains a critical factor influencing its market performance. Analysts and stakeholders will be closely monitoring upcoming earnings reports and clinical trial outcomes as Replimune Group continues to advance its therapeutic offerings.
