Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) Posts Fourth Quarter Loss, Exceeds Revenue Projections

Nektar Therapeutics Reports Better-Than-Expected Quarterly Results

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) posted a quarterly loss of $1.78 per share, which was significantly less than the anticipated loss of $2.76 per share according to Zacks Consensus Estimate. In comparison, the company reported a loss of $2.25 per share during the same period last year. These results exclude one-time items.

This performance resulted in a positive earnings surprise of 35.47%. In the previous quarter, Nektar was projected to lose $2.85 per share, but the actual loss was only $1.85, marking a 35.09% surprise. Over the past year, Nektar has exceeded consensus earnings per share estimates in three out of four quarters.

For the quarter ending December 2025, Nektar, a member of the Zacks Medical - Drugs sector, generated $21.81 million in revenue, surpassing expectations by 128.59%. This figure is down from $29.17 million in the same quarter last year. The company has also outperformed revenue estimates three times in the last four quarters.

The immediate reaction of Nektar’s stock price to these results, as well as its future trajectory, will largely depend on insights shared by management during the earnings call.

Since the start of the year, Nektar’s stock has climbed approximately 73.4%, while the S&P 500 has declined by 1%.

What Lies Ahead for Nektar?

Although Nektar (NKTR-4.05%) has outperformed the broader market so far this year, investors are now considering what the future holds for the stock.

One of the most reliable indicators for investors is the company’s earnings outlook, which includes both current consensus forecasts for upcoming quarters and recent changes in those estimates.

Studies have demonstrated a strong link between short-term stock price movements and changes in earnings estimates. Investors can monitor these revisions themselves or use established tools like the Zacks Rank, which has a proven record of leveraging earnings estimate trends.

Prior to this earnings announcement, Nektar’s estimate revision trend was positive. Although the latest results may influence future revisions, the stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting it is likely to outperform the market in the near term.

It will be important to watch how analyst estimates for the next quarters and the current fiscal year evolve in the coming days. At present, the consensus projection is an EPS of -$2.14 on $9.62 million in revenue for the next quarter, and an EPS of -$10.65 on $40.23 million in revenue for the full year.

Investors should also consider the broader industry outlook, as it can significantly affect individual stock performance. The Medical - Drugs sector currently ranks within the top 35% of over 250 Zacks industries. Research indicates that the top half of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the lower half by more than two to one.

Industry Comparison: Plus Therapeutics

Plus Therapeutics (PSTV), another company in the same sector, has not yet released its results for the quarter ending December 2025. This cell therapy developer is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.03 per share, reflecting a 95.5% improvement year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate for this period has remained stable over the past month.

Revenue for Plus Therapeutics is projected at $1.34 million, which would be a 5% decrease compared to the same quarter last year.

Is Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) a Good Investment?

Thinking about investing in Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR)? Interested in learning which stocks are recommended for the next month?

Since 1978, Zacks Investment Research has provided investors with independent analysis and tools. Over the past 25 years, the Zacks Rank stock-rating system has delivered average annual returns of +24.08%, more than doubling the S&P 500 (covering January 1, 1988 to May 6, 2024).

For the latest stock picks from Zacks Investment Research, you can download the 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.