Analyst Ratings February 24, 2026

Stifel Affirms Buy on Fulcrum After Pociredir Data; Valuation Questions Remain

Strong HbF response and clean safety profile push analysts to keep bullish stance, even as some valuation signals suggest caution

By Hana Yamamoto FULC
Stifel Affirms Buy on Fulcrum After Pociredir Data; Valuation Questions Remain
FULC

Stifel maintained a Buy rating and a $25.00 price target for Fulcrum Therapeutics (NASDAQ: FULC) after clinical readouts showed the company’s pociredir produced meaningful increases in fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and a favorable safety profile. The shares, trading at $9.32, have delivered substantial gains over the last year, while separate valuation data raise questions about whether current prices reflect the new clinical progress.

Key Points

  • Stifel reaffirmed a Buy rating and $25.00 price target for Fulcrum following positive pociredir data affecting sickle cell disease treatment prospects - sectors impacted: biotech, healthcare, pharmaceuticals.
  • Pociredir produced a 19.3% total mean HbF and showed vaso-occlusive crisis trends exceeding 60%, with the safety profile described as clean - clinical trial and patient care sectors are directly affected.
  • Fulcrum plans to begin registrational studies later this year and expects a regulatory update in Q2; enterprise value noted below $500 million for a late-stage asset, raising valuation and capital markets considerations.

Stifel has reiterated a Buy rating on Fulcrum Therapeutics with an unchanged price target of $25.00 following recent clinical results for the company’s sickle cell disease candidate, pociredir. The firm highlighted efficacy and tolerability signals from the program while noting that the stock is trading markedly below the analyst target.

At the time of the analyst action, Fulcrum’s shares were quoted at $9.32. That price level stands in contrast to Stifel’s $25.00 target and follows a very strong run for the shares over the past year, during which the stock has risen roughly 194%.

Clinical performance was central to Stifel’s update. The firm reported that pociredir achieved a total mean HbF level of 19.3% in patients with sickle cell disease. Stifel said those results surpassed physician expectations for an increase of greater than 10%, noting that most physicians typically look for HbF increases at or above 20% when assessing meaningful clinical benefit.

Beyond the HbF measurement, Stifel indicated the drug produced levels expected to provide disease protection, pointing specifically to vaso-occlusive crisis trends that exceeded 60%. The investment firm characterized pociredir’s safety profile as clean.

Fulcrum intends to move pociredir into registrational studies later this year and has signaled that a regulatory update is expected in the second quarter. These program milestones form the near-term development timeline highlighted by analysts.

On valuation, Stifel drew attention to the company’s enterprise value, which it said is below $500 million - a figure the firm flagged in the context of a late-stage asset in the sickle cell disease market. Separately, available valuation data suggest the shares may be rich at current levels despite the promising clinical readout.

Other recent corporate communications noted by market participants include Fulcrum’s Q4 2025 earnings call, where management emphasized progress with pociredir. That update coincided with a negative market reaction, which market commentators attributed in part to profit-taking rather than a change in fundamental prospects.

Investment firms remain active on the name. Oppenheimer, for example, retained an Outperform rating with a $15.00 price target. That firm described a recent pullback in the stock as driven by profit-taking and not by an alteration in Fulcrum’s underlying outlook.

Taken together, the clinical data and analyst coverage underline continued investor and industry interest in Fulcrum’s development trajectory while leaving open questions about how the market values the company ahead of registrational work and forthcoming regulatory updates.


Summary

Stifel reiterated a Buy rating and $25.00 target on Fulcrum after pociredir produced a 19.3% total mean HbF result and showed a clean safety profile. The stock trades at $9.32 after a roughly 194% gain over the past year. Plans call for registrational studies later this year, with a regulatory update expected in Q2. Valuation signals suggest the shares may be elevated relative to some measures.

Risks

  • Valuation risk: available valuation data indicate the shares may be overvalued at current market prices, which impacts investors and equity markets in the biotech sector.
  • Market reaction risk: recent clinical and earnings updates coincided with negative market moves attributed to profit-taking rather than changes in fundamentals, creating share price volatility in healthcare and financial markets.
  • Regulatory and development uncertainty: while registrational studies are planned and a Q2 regulatory update is expected, outcomes of those processes remain uncertain and could affect the company’s development trajectory and investor sentiment.

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