Iovance Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:IOVA) Sees Strong Trading Volume Following Earnings Beat

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:IOVA) saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. 13,385,919 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 7% from the previous session’s volume of 12,536,447 shares.The stock last traded at $4.1710 and had previously closed at $3.78.

The biotechnology company reported ($0.18) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.22) by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $86.77 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.61 million. Iovance Biotherapeutics had a negative net margin of 158.78% and a negative return on equity of 55.24%.

Iovance Biotherapeutics News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Iovance Biotherapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: FDA approval and program expansion — Lifileucel (Amtagvi) has secured FDA approval for metastatic melanoma, reported favorable real‑world response and safety data, obtained Fast Track designation in second‑line NSCLC, and Iovance plans expanded registrational trials. These developments move Amtagvi from a pipeline prospect toward commercial execution. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Strong early sarcoma data — A pilot TIL trial reported a 50% objective response rate in advanced soft‑tissue sarcomas (UPS/DDLPS), a meaningful signal in a small but addressable patient population that likely spurred buying interest. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat and improved operational metrics — Q4 revenue (~$86.8–$87M) topped estimates and EPS loss (-$0.18) was narrower than expected; management highlighted margin improvement and accelerating Amtagvi adoption. These results reduce near‑term execution uncertainty. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade and higher price target — Citizens/JMP upgraded Iovance from Market Perform to Market Outperform and set a $5 price target, signaling institutional confidence in commercial upside and providing an analyst‑driven catalyst. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Heavy call option activity — Unusual buying of call options (large uptick in call volume) suggests speculative bullish positioning by traders but doesn’t guarantee sustained directional moves.
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call and coverage — Transcripts and previews provide additional read‑throughs on commercialization progress and guidance; useful for due diligence but not immediate price drivers on their own. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability, cash runway and dilution risks remain — Analysts note Iovance is still unprofitable, faces manufacturing and adoption execution risks, and may not generate meaningful cash from Amtagvi before 2028; modeled cash runway into ~Q3 2027 implies potential dilution if uptake or partnerships lag. Read More.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on IOVA shares. Chardan Capital lowered their price objective on shares of Iovance Biotherapeutics from $17.00 to $16.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Citizens Jmp upgraded shares of Iovance Biotherapeutics from a “market perform” rating to a “market outperform” rating and set a $5.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays increased their price target on Iovance Biotherapeutics from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “sell” rating and issued a $2.00 price target on shares of Iovance Biotherapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Finally, HC Wainwright reduced their price objective on Iovance Biotherapeutics from $20.00 to $9.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $9.91.

Institutional Trading of Iovance Biotherapeutics

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in Iovance Biotherapeutics by 32.4% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,251,665 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $3,417,000 after purchasing an additional 306,195 shares during the last quarter. XTX Topco Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Iovance Biotherapeutics by 148.4% in the fourth quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 522,934 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,428,000 after buying an additional 312,413 shares in the last quarter. VARCOV Co. acquired a new position in Iovance Biotherapeutics during the fourth quarter worth about $253,000. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC grew its stake in Iovance Biotherapeutics by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Virtus Investment Advisers LLC now owns 310,641 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $848,000 after acquiring an additional 118,263 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tudor Investment Corp ET AL raised its holdings in Iovance Biotherapeutics by 47.4% in the 4th quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 179,494 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $490,000 after acquiring an additional 57,750 shares during the last quarter. 77.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Trading Up 10.5%

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $2.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.40. The company has a market cap of $1.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.48 and a beta of 0.76.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Company Profile

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc is a clinical‐stage biotechnology company specializing in the development and commercialization of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors. The company’s lead product candidate, lifileucel (formerly LN‐144), is an autologous TIL therapy in late‐stage clinical development for patients with advanced melanoma. Iovance’s pipeline also includes next‐generation TIL programs such as LN‐145 for cervical and other human papillomavirus (HPV)‐related cancers, as well as exploratory studies in head and neck, non‐small cell lung, gastric and other solid tumor indications.

Iovance’s TIL platform harnesses a patient’s own immune system by isolating, expanding and reinfusing tumor‐reactive lymphocytes.