StockNews.com Downgrades Pacific Biosciences of California to 'Sell' Rating

As of January 11, 2025, Pacific Biosciences of California (NASDAQ:PACB) has been given a new rating by analysts at StockNews.com, who have upgraded the stock to a 'sell' designation.

This evaluation follows a series of recent analyses concerning the stock. On November 11, Scotiabank revised its price target for the stock, reducing it from $7.00 to $6.00, while maintaining a 'sector outperform' rating. Additionally, Piper Sandler increased its price target from $2.00 to $2.50, assigning a 'neutral' rating. Meanwhile, UBS Group downgraded its rating from 'buy' to 'neutral' and set a price objective of $2.00.

The current consensus indicates that one analyst has rated the stock as a 'sell', while six have opted for a 'hold', and six others have given it a 'buy' rating. According to MarketBeat.com, the average recommendation for the stock is 'Hold', with a consensus price target of $2.95.

Stock Performance Overview

Pacific Biosciences shares opened at $2.10 on Thursday. For context, the stock has experienced a low of $1.16 and a high of $7.85 over the past twelve months. The company's market cap stands at approximately $575.11 million, with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of -1.44 and a beta of 1.95. Notably, PACB has a fifty-day simple moving average of $2.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1.79. Its liquidity ratios include a quick ratio of 8.64 and a current ratio of 9.74, alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.97.

Insider Activity

In recent insider transactions, Mark Van Oene sold 34,405 shares of Pacific Biosciences on January 10, with the shares sold at an average price of $2.03, resulting in a total transaction value of $69,842.15. After this sale, he retains ownership of 1,597,454 shares, valued at about $3,242,831.62. This sale reflects a 2.11% decrease in his shareholding. The transaction details have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and insiders collectively hold 2.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investment Activity

Recently, several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in Pacific Biosciences. For instance, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings by 13.4% during the second quarter, now owning 436,868 shares valued at around $598,000 after buying an additional 51,727 shares. Similarly, Daiwa Securities Group raised its stake by 4.2%, now possessing 235,308 shares worth $322,000 following the acquisition of an extra 9,516 shares. Other notable investors include Federated Hermes, HSBC Holdings PLC, and Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc., who have all made strategic adjustments to their stakeholder positions during this period.

Company Profile

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. specializes in the design, development, and manufacture of sequencing solutions aimed at solving genetically complex issues. The company offers an array of products, including sequencing systems and consumables, such as single molecule real-time (SMRT) technology and various reagent kits tailored for specific workflows.

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