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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Halozyme Therapeutics, Protagonist Therapeutics, Aptose Biosciences and Pieris Pharmaceuticals
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For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – December 15, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO - Free Report) , Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (PTGX - Free Report) , Aptose Biosciences Inc. (APTO - Free Report) and Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PIRS - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
4 Top-Ranked Biotech Stocks Under $20
The biotech industry witnessed a rebound in 2017 from last year’s challenges despite rising competition, pipeline setbacks, pricing pressure, slowdown in growth of mature products and generic competition for certain key drugs.
More frequent FDA approvals, new product sales’ ramp up, R&D success and innovation, strong clinical study results and continued strength in some legacy products have changed the scene for the better this year.
In fact, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index has gained 20.9% so far this year, in sharp contrast to last year’s performance when the index was down 22%.
Notably, the Medical - Biomed/Genetics sub-industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of #108, which places it at the top 41% of 250 plus Zacks industries. Our back-testing shows that the top 50% of the Zacks ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. Moreover, the Medical - Biomed/Genetics industry has increased 3.7% this year so far.
The positive factors are expected to continue contributing to the sector’s growth next year. Meanwhile, the uncertainty around the passing of the tax reform has reduced with the U.S. Senate clearing an amended version last week. The bill will now be presented to a conference committee where representatives from the House and Senate will come together to draft the final bill.
The reform aims to bring down the corporate tax to stimulate economic as well as employment growth. If the tax reforms are approved, biotech companies will be at an advantage with more cash left on hand. This cash can be utilized for mergers/acquisitions, which have been relatively less this year than in 2016.
Which Stocks to Pick?
To cash in on the favorable drug/biotech trends, this is the right time to add a few stocks that have growth potential.
To further narrow down the list, we have selected those which have a Growth Score of A or B. Our research shows that stocks with a Growth Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential. Also, we've highlighted stocks that are currently trading under $20 per share.
Here are the four stocks that fulfilled these criteria:
San Diego-based Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #2. The stock has a Growth Score of A. Shares of the company have gained 110.5% year to date. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $19.57.
The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the three out of the trailing four quarters by an average of 37.67%. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 83 cents to 71 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days.
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #1. The stock has a Growth Score of B and is currently valued at $17.57. The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 13.83% in two out of the trailing four quarters. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from $3.38 to $1.82 for 2018 over the last 60 days.
Aptose Biosciences Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of B. Shares of the company have gained 23.7% year to date. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $1.8. The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 27.14% in two out of the trailing four quarters. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 75 cents to 69 cents for 2018 over the last 30 days.
The clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of A. Shares of the company have skyrocketed 327% year to date. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 85 cents to 63 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $5.79.
Zacks Editor-in-Chief Goes "All In" on This Stock
Full disclosure, Kevin Matras now has more of his own money in one particular stock than in any other. He believes in its short-term profit potential and also in its prospects to more than double by 2019. Today he reveals and explains his surprising move in a new Special Report.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Halozyme Therapeutics, Protagonist Therapeutics, Aptose Biosciences and Pieris Pharmaceuticals
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – December 15, 2017 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO - Free Report) , Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (PTGX - Free Report) , Aptose Biosciences Inc. (APTO - Free Report) and Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PIRS - Free Report) .
Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:
4 Top-Ranked Biotech Stocks Under $20
The biotech industry witnessed a rebound in 2017 from last year’s challenges despite rising competition, pipeline setbacks, pricing pressure, slowdown in growth of mature products and generic competition for certain key drugs.
More frequent FDA approvals, new product sales’ ramp up, R&D success and innovation, strong clinical study results and continued strength in some legacy products have changed the scene for the better this year.
In fact, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index has gained 20.9% so far this year, in sharp contrast to last year’s performance when the index was down 22%.
Notably, the Medical - Biomed/Genetics sub-industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of #108, which places it at the top 41% of 250 plus Zacks industries. Our back-testing shows that the top 50% of the Zacks ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one. Moreover, the Medical - Biomed/Genetics industry has increased 3.7% this year so far.
The positive factors are expected to continue contributing to the sector’s growth next year. Meanwhile, the uncertainty around the passing of the tax reform has reduced with the U.S. Senate clearing an amended version last week. The bill will now be presented to a conference committee where representatives from the House and Senate will come together to draft the final bill.
The reform aims to bring down the corporate tax to stimulate economic as well as employment growth. If the tax reforms are approved, biotech companies will be at an advantage with more cash left on hand. This cash can be utilized for mergers/acquisitions, which have been relatively less this year than in 2016.
Which Stocks to Pick?
To cash in on the favorable drug/biotech trends, this is the right time to add a few stocks that have growth potential.
We have taken the help of the Zacks Stock Screener to make our selection foolproof. To shortlist the stocks from the vast universe of biotech companies, we have picked stocks that carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
To further narrow down the list, we have selected those which have a Growth Score of A or B. Our research shows that stocks with a Growth Score of A or B when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 offer the best upside potential. Also, we've highlighted stocks that are currently trading under $20 per share.
Here are the four stocks that fulfilled these criteria:
San Diego-based Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #2. The stock has a Growth Score of A. Shares of the company have gained 110.5% year to date. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $19.57.
The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the three out of the trailing four quarters by an average of 37.67%. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 83 cents to 71 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days.
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #1. The stock has a Growth Score of B and is currently valued at $17.57. The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 13.83% in two out of the trailing four quarters. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from $3.38 to $1.82 for 2018 over the last 60 days.
Aptose Biosciences Inc. carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of B. Shares of the company have gained 23.7% year to date. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $1.8. The company has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 27.14% in two out of the trailing four quarters. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 75 cents to 69 cents for 2018 over the last 30 days.
The clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc., carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a Growth Score of A. Shares of the company have skyrocketed 327% year to date. Also, the loss estimates have narrowed from 85 cents to 63 cents for 2018 over the last 60 days. Moreover, the stock is currently valued at $5.79.
Zacks Editor-in-Chief Goes "All In" on This Stock
Full disclosure, Kevin Matras now has more of his own money in one particular stock than in any other. He believes in its short-term profit potential and also in its prospects to more than double by 2019. Today he reveals and explains his surprising move in a new Special Report.
Download it free >>
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.