Atara Biotherapeutics (ATRA) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Individual investors ...

分组1 - Atara Biotherapeutics reported a quarterly loss of $1.19 per share, significantly better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $3.82, and an improvement from a loss of $14 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of 68.85% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $32.75 million for the quarter ended December 2024, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 150.02%, compared to revenues of $4.25 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Atara Biotherapeutics has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times over the last four quarters, indicating a positive trend in performance [2] 分组2 - The stock has underperformed the market, losing approximately 48.9% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has declined by only 2.4% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$3.94 on revenues of $0.2 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$10.32 on revenues of $64.5 million [7] - The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry, to which Atara belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8]

Financial Performance - The company reported a net loss of $85.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024[187]. - As of December 31, 2024, the company had total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $42.5 million, which are insufficient to fund planned operations for at least the next twelve months[197]. - The company has incurred substantial losses since inception and expects to continue incurring significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future[188]. - The company plans to seek additional capital through various means, including private and public equity offerings and debt financings, which may lead to dilution of existing stockholders[199]. - The company may pursue liquidation and dissolution if it fails to identify viable strategic alternatives or raise sufficient capital[184]. Strategic Alternatives and Operations - The company has engaged a financial advisor to explore a range of strategic alternatives, including potential acquisitions or mergers[180]. - The company has paused its CAR-T programs and discontinued development operations as of March 2025[180]. - The company faces significant operational and financial risks associated with pursuing strategic transactions, including potential disruptions and increased costs[183]. - The company may encounter challenges in realizing anticipated benefits from the Fujifilm Transaction, which could disrupt its business operations[202]. Product Development and Regulatory Approval - The company has one approved product, Ebvallo, which is currently approved in the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland, while all other product candidates remain in preclinical development[203]. - The company faces risks related to the marketing authorization of its product candidates, with substantial dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals for future products[208]. - The company has not obtained regulatory approval for any other product candidates, and there is a possibility that none will ever receive approval[210]. - The company plans to submit the tab-cel BLA in Q2 2024, with FDA acceptance expected by July 2024 and a target action date of January 15, 2025[212]. - The FDA placed a clinical hold on the company's IND applications in January 2025, affecting both tab-cel and ATA3219 due to GMP compliance issues[227]. Clinical Trials and Patient Enrollment - The clinical development process is lengthy and expensive, with inherent uncertainties that can lead to failure at any stage[226]. - Patient enrollment for clinical studies is significantly impacted by various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to slower than anticipated enrollment rates[229]. - The company activated additional clinical sites for the ALLELE study, resulting in increased HLA coverage and improved enrollment rates throughout 2018[229]. - The company relies on contract research organizations (CROs) for clinical studies, which introduces risks related to performance and compliance with regulatory requirements[230]. Manufacturing and Supply Chain Risks - Manufacturing processes and compliance with regulations are complex, and any failure in these areas could lead to increased costs and limited supply of products[255]. - The company faces risks related to the development and scale-up of manufacturing processes, which could delay product availability[256]. - Recent contamination issues at a CMO have necessitated pauses in manufacturing activities for products like Ebvallo and tab-cel, impacting production timelines[258]. - The company relies heavily on third-party manufacturers, which poses risks related to regulatory compliance and potential disruptions in supply chains[267]. Intellectual Property and Legal Risks - The company relies on a combination of patents, trademarks, and trade secrets for intellectual property protection, and any inadequacy could adversely affect its ability to compete[288]. - The company faces significant risks related to potential patent infringement claims from third parties, which could lead to costly litigation and hinder development efforts[298]. - The company may face challenges in enforcing its intellectual property rights globally, particularly in jurisdictions with weaker protections[304]. - The company may need to engage in costly and time-consuming legal proceedings to protect its intellectual property, with unpredictable outcomes[307]. Market and Competitive Landscape - The company faces substantial competition from various pharmaceutical and biotechnology enterprises, which may hinder its commercial opportunities if competitors develop superior products[332]. - The company expects its product candidates to be priced at a significant premium over competitive generic products, which may impede adoption without compelling clinical evidence[335]. - The approval of a biosimilar could materially impact the company's business by offering a lower-cost alternative to its products[341]. Regulatory and Compliance Challenges - The company is subject to various healthcare laws and regulations that could expose it to significant compliance costs and legal risks[367]. - The company faces substantial costs to ensure compliance with healthcare laws and regulations, which could lead to significant civil, criminal, and administrative penalties if violations occur[368]. - The company is subject to stringent privacy and data protection laws, such as the EU GDPR, which imposes comprehensive obligations that could increase compliance costs and operational risks[376]. Financial and Stockholder Considerations - The company does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future, with capital appreciation being the sole source of potential gain for stockholders[355]. - Future sales and issuances of common stock may lead to dilution of existing stockholders' ownership and could negatively impact the stock price[356]. - The company qualifies as a "smaller reporting company" and a "non-accelerated filer," which allows it to comply with reduced reporting requirements, potentially making its shares less attractive to investors[362].

Financial Position - Atara Biotherapeutics reported cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as of December 31, 2024, but specific figures were not disclosed in the preliminary estimate[6] Product Update - The company provided a regulatory and business update on its product EBVALLO™ (tabeleucel) on January 16, 2025[7]

Core Viewpoint - Atara Biotherapeutics (ATRA) shares have increased by 11.4% in the past four weeks, closing at $8.72, with a potential upside indicated by Wall Street analysts' mean price target of $11.60, suggesting a 33% increase from the current price [1] Price Targets and Estimates - The mean estimate consists of five short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $5.81, indicating variability among analysts; the lowest estimate is $5, suggesting a 42.7% decline, while the highest target is $18, indicating a potential surge of 106.4% [2] - A tight clustering of price targets, represented by a low standard deviation, suggests a high degree of agreement among analysts regarding the stock's price movement direction [7] Earnings Estimates - Analysts show growing optimism regarding ATRA's earnings prospects, as indicated by a strong consensus in revising EPS estimates higher, which correlates with near-term stock price movements [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased by 23.9% over the past month, with one estimate rising and no negative revisions [10] - ATRA holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, indicating a strong potential upside [11] Caution on Price Targets - Solely relying on consensus price targets for investment decisions may not be wise, as empirical research shows that these targets often mislead investors [5][8] - Analysts may set overly optimistic price targets due to business incentives, which can inflate expectations [6]

Core Viewpoint - Atara Biotherapeutics is under investigation for potential securities fraud and unlawful business practices following significant stock price declines due to regulatory issues with its drug application and clinical trials [1][2][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Issues - On January 16, 2025, Atara received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA regarding its Biologics License Application (BLA) for EBVALLO, leading to a stock price drop of $6.59 per share, or 50.08%, closing at $6.57 per share [2]. - On January 21, 2025, the FDA placed a clinical hold on Atara's active Investigational New Drug (IND) applications due to compliance issues identified during the pre-license inspection, resulting in a further stock price decline of $0.52 per share, or 7.91%, closing at $6.05 per share [3]. Group 2: Legal Investigation - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of Atara investors regarding potential securities fraud or other unlawful business practices by the company and its officers or directors [1].

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a preeminent national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATRA) ("Atara" or the "Company"). The investigation concerns whether Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud. PLEASE CLICK ...

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a preeminent national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA) (“Atara” or the “Company”). The investigation concerns whether Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud. PLEASE CLIC ...

Group 1 - The Schall Law Firm is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. for potential violations of securities laws [1] - The investigation centers on whether Atara made false or misleading statements or failed to disclose important information to investors [2] - Atara received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA regarding its EBVALLO Biologics License Application, which is related to a third-party manufacturing facility inspection [2] Group 2 - The CRL pertains to the treatment for adult and pediatric patients with Epstein-Barr virus positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease who have undergone at least one prior therapy [2]

Core Viewpoint - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims of potential securities fraud or unlawful business practices involving Atara Biotherapeutics, following a significant stock price drop after the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter for its product EBVALLO [1][2]. Group 1: Company Overview - Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for patients with serious diseases, including those related to Epstein-Barr virus [2]. - The company’s stock experienced a dramatic decline of 40.50% on January 16, 2025, after the announcement of the FDA's Complete Response Letter regarding its Biologics License Application for EBVALLO [2]. Group 2: Regulatory and Legal Context - The Complete Response Letter from the FDA was related to observations from a standard pre-license inspection of a third-party manufacturing facility for EBVALLO, indicating potential issues in the manufacturing process [2]. - Pomerantz LLP, a firm specializing in corporate and securities class litigation, is leading the investigation into Atara's practices, highlighting the firm's long history in fighting for victims of securities fraud [3].