Ocular Therapeutix Rises 6% Amid Takeover Speculation

Key deals this week include Ocular Therapeutix rising 6% amid takeover speculation, CoreWeave and Air Lease, Cadence, and more. There is speculation that a French pharmaceutical company is circling Ocular Therapeutix.

Ocular Therapeutix (OCUL) experienced a notable increase in its stock price on September 1, 2025, rising by 6% amidst speculation of a potential takeover by a French pharmaceutical company. The news emerged from an unconfirmed alert from Betaville, which suggested a possible acquisition offer of $16 per share with a Contingent Value Right (CVR) of $2 per share [1].

The stock's volatility is partly driven by mixed quarterly results and divergent analyst price targets, ranging from $3.53 to $17.55, indicating uncertainty in OCUL's valuation [1]. The company reported an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.39 for Q2 2025, missing estimates by $0.04, but revenue of $13.5 million, which beat expectations by $0.38 million [1]. The recent FDA approval for a registrational trial of Axpaxl, a treatment for wet AMD, could either validate OCUL's pipeline or force reliance on acquisitions [1].

The potential acquisition by a French pharmaceutical company could be seen as a strategic move, given the biotech consolidation trend in the ophthalmic specialist sector. Ocular Therapeutix has been experiencing stock volatility in recent weeks, and the potential for a significant takeover could have significant implications for investors [1].

Separately, Applied Digital (APLD) has made significant strides, securing a new lease agreement with CoreWeave for an additional 150MW at their Polaris Forge 1 Campus and announcing the commencement of the Polaris Forge 2 development. These expansions align with the company's long-term goals of bolstering AI infrastructure and supporting a more predictable revenue stream. However, the company's share price remained flat last quarter, reflecting broader market trends and uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate cut expectations and macroeconomic factors [2].

References:
[1] https://www.ainvest.com/news/ocular-therapeutix-ocul-soars-7-09-acquisition-speculation-16-share-rumors-2509/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/applied-digital-apld-expands-ai-171502442.html