PTC Rises on Analyst Upgrades Despite FDA Rejection Stock Ranked 470th in 180M Volume

On August 21, 2025, PTC Inc. (PTC) rose 0.50% to close at $211.95, with a trading volume of $180 million, ranking 470th in market activity for the day. The stock’s performance was influenced by mixed developments in its pipeline and analyst activity.

A key factor weighing on sentiment was the FDA’s rejection of PTC’s drug candidate, vatiquinone, for Friedreich’s ataxia. This decision, reported by *Pharmaceutical Technology*, highlighted regulatory hurdles for the company’s therapeutic programs. Additionally, *BioPharma Dive* noted the rejection as a setback, though no immediate operational impacts were disclosed.

Offsetting some of the pressure, Barclays upgraded PTC’s price target to $233 in a recent report, cited by *Insider Monkey*. The firm cited improved AI integration and operational efficiency as catalysts. Meanwhile, Zacks analysts reiterated a "Strong Buy" rating, emphasizing PTC’s long-term growth potential despite short-term challenges.

Backtest analysis of a strategy buying the top 500 stocks by volume and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 showed a 1.98% average daily return, with a 7.61% total return over 365 days. The approach yielded a Sharpe ratio of 0.94 but faced a maximum drawdown of -29.16%, underscoring volatility risks during market downturns.