Pacific Biosciences
PACB Small CapHealthcare · Medical Devices
Updated: Aug 20, 2026, 22:20 UTC
Price Chart
Key Metrics
Valuation Analysis
About the Company
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. designs, develops, and manufactures sequencing solutions to resolve genetically complex problems. The company provides sequencing systems; consumable products, including single molecule real-time (SMRT) technology; long-read sequencing; and various reagent kits designed for specific workflow, such as preparation kit to convert DNA into SMRTbell double-stranded DNA library formats, including molecular biology reagents, such as ligase, buffers, and exonucleases. It also offers binding kits, such as modified DNA polymerase used to bind SMRTbell libraries to the polymerase in preparation for sequencing; and sequencing kits comprise reagents required for on-instrument, real-time sequencing, including the phospholinked nucleotides. In addition, the company
Pacific Biosciences Stock at a Glance
Pacific Biosciences (PACB) is currently trading at $1.23 with a market capitalization of $382.3M. The 52-week range spans from $1.07 to $2.73; the current price is 54.9% below the yearly high. Year-over-year revenue growth stands at -1.9%.
💰 Dividend
Pacific Biosciences currently does not pay a dividend. The company typically reinvests its earnings into growth initiatives and product development.
📊 Analyst Rating
6 analysts rate Pacific Biosciences (PACB) on consensus: Buy. The average price target is $2.29, implying +86.31% from the current price. Analyst price targets range from $1.25 to $3.00.
Pacific Biosciences: The Investment Case in Detail
Pacific Biosciences (PACB) operates in the Healthcare — specifically Medical Devices — and is headquartered in United States. Below is a structured read of the investment case built directly from the latest fundamentals, valuation multiples, analyst positioning and smart-money flows. Each section translates raw numbers into the investment logic they imply, so you can decide whether the risk/reward fits your portfolio.
The Bull Case
Wall Street consensus sits at Buy with an average price target implying roughly 86.31% upside from current levels — analyst sentiment is firmly constructive.
The Bear Case
Revenue is contracting at -1.9% year-over-year — until that trend reverses, valuation is exposed to further downgrades. Net margins remain negative, meaning every euro of revenue is still producing losses — the path to profitability is the central question for shareholders. With a beta near 2.32, the share price moves sharply more than the broader market — drawdowns in market corrections can be unusually severe and require strong nerves.
Valuation in Context
The EV/EBITDA multiple of 4.35x is below the historical equity-market average — strategic acquirers would find the cash-flow profile attractive at this level.
What to Watch Next
- The price sits in the lower quartile of the 52-week range — value hunters often start scaling in around this zone if fundamentals hold.
- The analyst consensus price target implies 86.31% upside — if the next two quarters confirm the underlying thesis, target hikes typically follow.
Investment Thesis: Strengths & Weaknesses
- Analyst consensus: Buy
- Positive free cash flow
- –Revenue shrinking (-1.9% YoY)
- –Currently unprofitable
- –High volatility (Beta 2.32)
- –High short interest (18.12%)
Technical Snapshot
Price is below both the 50- and 200-day moving averages, with 50d below 200d — a bearish picture (death-cross alignment).
Risk Profile
The data points to above-average price swings, elevated short interest (18.12%).
Trading Data
Related Stocks in the Same Sector
Pacific Biosciences at 1.12 dollars: the long-read DNA sequencing pioneer trading near book wipeout
The Real Story
Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) is the original pioneer of long-read DNA sequencing — the SMRT (Single Molecule Real-Time) technology that reads DNA fragments tens of thousands of bases long versus Illumina's short reads of 150 to 300 bases. Long reads matter for genomics applications where structural variants, repetitive regions, and full-length transcripts are critical: clinical hereditary disease diagnosis, plant genomics, microbiome research, and personalized cancer-genome assembly.
The market hates this stock for three reasons. First, Oxford Nanopore (UK competitor) eats the lower end of the long-read market. Second, Illumina is rolling out its own long-read product (Complete Long Read) which threatens PacBio's high-end labs. Third, PacBio cash burn pushed the company to a 2024 dilutive capital raise that sent shares from $9 to under $2. Trailing EPS minus 0.41, EV/EBITDA negative — clinical-stage-economics, not yet a profitable sequencer.
What Smart Money Thinks
BlackRock and Vanguard are passive holders. Casdin Capital (life-sciences hedge fund) had a position but reduced through 2024. No major activist or strategic. Insider buying has been limited.
Explore the BMI Smart-Money Tracker →
📈 The 3 Real Bull Points
📉 The 3 Real Bear Points
Valuation in Context
Traditional valuation does not apply. EV/Sales 4.86 on $160M revenue, negative book equity (low denominator drives the P/B 140 number), high cash burn. The stock is an option on either a Revio-driven installed-base flywheel or an M&A premium. Probability of zero is real (20 to 30 percent) but probability of $5 to $8 takeout is also real.
🗓️ Next 3 Catalyst Dates
- :
- :
- :
💬 Daniel's Take
PACB is a binary biotech-economics name dressed as a medical-device company. I would only own this in a long-read-sequencing basket alongside Oxford Nanopore (LSE: ONT) and as a 0.3 to 0.5 percent option-style position. The upside if Revio compounds and M&A happens is 3x to 5x; the downside is 80 percent drawdown to dilutive raise. Not investing — speculating with a thematic hedge.
Sources (3)
Disclaimer: This article is not investment advice. Investing in stocks carries risks, including total loss.
More Healthcare stocks
Top peers in the same sector — ranked by market cap.
Where can I buy Pacific Biosciences?
Compare top-rated brokers — low fees, trusted providers, fully regulated.
📊 Prefer a fund over a single stock? Compare ETFs:
Live Market Data
Real-time chart, financials, earnings, analysts, insider trades, events & news