LENZ Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LENZ) surges 5.45% on renewed institutional confidence and analyst optimism

LENZ Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LENZ) surged 5.4482% in pre-market trading on December 22, 2025, driven by renewed institutional confidence and analyst optimism. The stock, which opened at $18.00, reflects a broader shift in market sentiment following key developments in its equity research coverage.

Analysts have revised their recommendations, with Piper Sandler raising its target price to $67.00 and Raymond James Financial increasing its estimate to $50.00. Despite a downgrade from Zacks Research to "hold," the overall consensus remains "Moderate Buy," with a median 12-month price target of $56.40. Institutional activity further underscores this trend, as Vanguard Group and Swiss National Bank bolstered their holdings, while Nuveen LLC and Wellington Management Group added new positions.

Recent insider transactions also contributed to the stock's momentum.

Director James W. McCollum purchased 10,500 shares at $22.79 apiece, signaling direct support from leadership. However, insider Shawn Olsson’s sale of 10,000 shares at $26.10 highlights mixed signals among stakeholders. Despite these movements, institutional ownership now accounts for 54.32% of the float, reinforcing long-term stability.

The biopharmaceutical firm’s recent earnings report, which surpassed estimates with $0.08 per share, and its ongoing Phase III trials for presbyopia treatments, position it to capitalize on unmet medical needs. With a market cap of $563.22 million and a beta of 0.46, LENZ remains a lower-volatility play in the biotech sector, aligning with its current valuation multiples.