Analysts Conflicted on These Healthcare Names: Intercept Pharma (ICPT) and Assertio Therapeutics Inc (ASRT)


Companies in the Healthcare sector have received a lot of coverage today as analysts weigh in on Intercept Pharma (ICPT) and Assertio Therapeutics Inc (ASRT).

Intercept Pharma (ICPT)

B.Riley FBR analyst Mayank Mamtani reiterated a Buy rating on Intercept Pharma today and set a price target of $155. The company’s shares opened today at $131.67, close to its 52-week high of $133.74.

Mamtani said:

“On the morning of Tuesday (2/19), ICPT demonstrated positive efficacy and safety results from Ph. III REGENERATE trial in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We are most encouraged by the doubling of drug effect on the fibrosis endpoint with a high statistical significance and a relatively clean safety profile, which positions obeticholic acid (OCA) to become the first FDA drug approved for NASH indication in as early as first half of 2020.”

According to TipRanks.com, Mamtani is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 7.4% and a 62.5% success rate. Mamtani covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals Inc, Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, and Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Intercept Pharma has an analyst consensus of Strong Buy, with a price target consensus of $164.09, which is a 24.6% upside from current levels. In a report issued on February 5, Cantor Fitzgerald also assigned a Buy rating to the stock with a $170 price target.

See today’s analyst top recommended stocks >>

Assertio Therapeutics Inc (ASRT)

In a report released today, Irina Rivkind Koffler from Mizuho Securities reiterated a Hold rating on Assertio Therapeutics Inc, with a price target of $6. The company’s shares opened today at $4.40.

Rivkind Koffler wrote:

“We utilize a weighted average cost of capital of 9% and a 0% terminal growth rate and model to 2026, a year in which all of the company’s products face generic competition. We include $32 million for the company’s remaining cash due from Purdue related to OxyContin patent infringement litigation, and also added a $50 million liability for opioid litigation associated with Nucynta/ER. This analysis generates valuation of $6/share, and supports our Neutral rating.”

According to TipRanks.com, Koffler is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 7.7% and a 42.4% success rate. Koffler covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Bausch Health Companies Inc, Eagle Pharmaceuticals Inc, and Supernus Pharmaceuticals.

Currently, the analyst consensus on Assertio Therapeutics Inc is a Hold with an average price target of $6.

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