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]. The recent developments at Applied Digital, such as securing an additional 150MW lease on their Polaris Forge 1 Campus and initiating Polaris Forge 2, are likely to have substantial implications on the company's narrative. These expansions align with the company’s long-term goals of bolstering AI infrastructure, potentially driving future revenue and earnings growth. The significant lease agreement with CoreWeave, a major AI hyperscaler, positions Applied Digital well in the booming AI sector, supporting a more predictable revenue stream. However, despite these promising moves, the company's share price remained flat last quarter, reflecting broader market trends and uncertainty over Federal Reserve rate cut expectations and macroeconomic factors. Over a five-year period, Applied Digital's total return, including share price and dividends, has been significantly large at 23050.39%, showcasing strong long-term performance. In comparison, the company's one-year performance exceeded the US IT industry, which saw a return of 22.7%. This disparity underlines the strong potential seen by market participants in Applied Digital's business model and growth trajectory over recent years. The lease agreement with CoreWeave could positively impact revenue and earnings forecasts, as analysts project considerable growth tied to long-term, high-value contracts with AI hyperscalers. The anticipated build-out of AI infrastructure and data center capacity offers potential for rapid scaling in a high-demand sector. Despite this, the current share price of US$13.89 shows a significant discount of about 26% to the consensus price target of US$19.38. This gap indicates potential market skepticism or caution regarding the aggressive growth and expansion strategies, along with associated risks.

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