Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) Sees Mixed Analyst Actions as Zanzalintinib Nears Commercial Launch

We recently compiled a list of the Top 10 Oncology Stocks to Buy Now. Exelixis, Inc. is placed eighth among the best cancer stocks.

TheFly reported on January 8 that H.C. Wainwright analyst Robert Burns raised his price target on EXEL to $52 from $49 while maintaining a Buy rating after the company announced a strategic collaboration with Natera. According to Burns, investor sentiment around zanzalintinib’s commercial potential across several tumor indications will be the primary near-to medium-term value driver.

On the same day, Morgan Stanley downgraded Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) to Equal Weight from Overweight and raised its price target to $48 from $45. According to the firm, the stock is currently trading barely 10% below the updated goal after a roughly 28% increase in share price over the prior year. Zanzalintinib will be commercially available for a number of cancer indications for the first time in 2026, according to Morgan Stanley, and its valuation already accounts for related catalytic events.

Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) Sees Mixed Analyst Actions as Zanzalintinib Nears Commercial Launch

On January 11, EXEL reported preliminary 2025 revenues of about $2.32 billion in a business update that followed these analyst actions. The company’s $2.525–$2.625 billion sales forecast for 2026 is a crucial factor in analysts’ updated models.

Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) focuses on the discovery and development of small molecules for the treatment of various cancers. Its primary products, CABOMETYX and COMETRIQ, target multiple tyrosine kinases, including MET, VEGFR, and AXL, which are involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis.

While we acknowledge the risk and potential of EXEL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than EXEL and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None.