There’s a lot to be optimistic about in the Healthcare sector as 3 analysts just weighed in on Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ: AVXL), Pluristem (NASDAQ: PSTI) and Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) with bullish sentiments.
Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ: AVXL)
H.C. Wainwright analyst Jason Kolbert maintained a Buy rating on Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ: AVXL) today and set a price target of $10. The company’s shares closed yesterday at $4.06.
Kolbert wrote:
“We remain hopeful as the need in AD is great. Sigma 1 appears to be a cell survival mechanism. ANAVEX2-73 (2-73), as an agonist of the Sigma 1 receptor is being evaluated by Anavex for its utility in AD. As a cell survival mechanism it appears that once activated there are several modes of action including muscarinic, as a sigma receptor agonist, and Ca2+ modulation. The combination of which appears to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction, lower oxidative stress and as a chaperone for the elimination of early misfolded proteins, which in turn should prevent the formation of beta-amyloid and tau, all of which suggests potential utility in a wide range of CNS disorders. The mechanism of action is very differentiated from the recent failures such as the BACE inhibitors and others we have seen in the AD space. Signals of hope in AD.”
According to TipRanks.com, Kolbert is a 1-star analyst with an average return of -1.4% and a 39.3% success rate. Kolbert covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Can-Fite BioPharma, Cytori Therap, and Mesoblast Ltd.
Anavex Life Sciences has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $8.50.
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Pluristem (NASDAQ: PSTI)
H.C. Wainwright analyst Swayampakula Ramakanth maintained a Buy rating on Pluristem (NASDAQ: PSTI) today and set a price target of $3.50. The company’s shares closed yesterday at $1.33.
According to TipRanks.com, Ramakanth is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 8.4% and a 42.5% success rate. Ramakanth covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc, IntelGenx Technologies, and Tyme Technologies Inc.
Currently, the analyst consensus on Pluristem is Moderate Buy and the average price target is $3.25, representing a 144.4% upside.
In a report issued on June 4, Maxim Group also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $3 price target.
Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX)
In a report released today, Joseph Pantginis from H.C. Wainwright reiterated a Buy rating on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX), with a price target of $15. The company’s shares closed yesterday at $11.16, close to its 52-week high of $11.75.
Pantginis noted:
“We think that a possible takeout of Madrigal is due to the tremendous market opportunity within the metabolic disorder arena, including NASH. Specifically, what renders this indication attractive is the unmet need that NASH has no approved treatments, making it attractive to pharma with a long-standing interest in the space (e.g., metabolic disorders or syndromes). Value disconnect continues for Viking even in the face of recent share appreciation. We believe that with Madrigal in play, it continues to bring deserved focus to VK2809, which should garner significant business development interest as well, in our belief. The recent share price appreciation and subsequent equity raise of $77.6 million was due to the success of MGL-3196 and assumed read-through to the upcoming VK2809 results in 2H18.”
According to TipRanks.com, Pantginis is currently ranked with no stars on a 0-5 star ranking scale, with an average return of -9.4% and a 37.0% success rate. Pantginis covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as SELLAS Life Sciences Group Inc, Applied Genetic Technologies, and Checkpoint Therapeutics Inc.
Currently, the analyst consensus on Viking Therapeutics is Strong Buy and the average price target is $14, representing a 25.4% upside.
In a report issued on May 31, Maxim Group also assigned a Buy rating to the stock with a $14 price target.
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