UBS Upgrades Illumina to Buy from Neutral
Fintel reports that on September 9, 2026, UBS upgraded their outlook for Illumina (NASDAQGS:ILMN) from Neutral to Buy.
This upgrade follows a prior action by UBS on October 31, 2025, when the firm maintained its Neutral rating on the stock. Additionally, on September 3, 2026, Argus Research maintained its Buy rating for the company.
Prior to the rating action, Illumina's stock closed at $211.06 on September 8, 2026. This latest close represents a price change of +1.90% over one week, compared to the baseline close of $207.13 on September 1, 2026. Over a longer one-month period, the stock experienced a price change of +12.29% from its baseline close of $187.96 on August 7, 2026.
Illumina reported its latest earnings on July 30, 2026. The company posted an actual EPS of 1.31, which exceeded the EPS estimate of 1.2507, representing an EPS surprise of +4.74%. Actual revenue for the quarter reached $1,159,000,000,000,000.00, compared to the estimated revenue of $1,152,547,725,000,000.00.
As of August 29, 2026, the current consensus target mean for the stock was $197.83, while the median target was $214.20. This mean target represents an implied change of -6.27% from the stock's price and is a +2.90% revision from the prior consensus target mean of $192.26 recorded on August 4, 2026. In terms of analyst recommendations, the current period as of September 1, 2026, shows a total of 28 recommendations, consisting of 7 strong buy, 9 buy, 9 hold, 2 sell, and 1 strong sell ratings. This distribution reflects 57.1% positive, 32.1% hold, and 10.7% negative recommendations. In the prior period as of August 1, 2026, the total of 28 recommendations included 7 strong buy, 10 buy, 8 hold, 2 sell, and 1 strong sell ratings, representing 60.7% positive, 28.6% hold, and 10.7% negative recommendations.
Illumina, Inc., based in the United States, operates predominantly within the biotechnology industry, specializing in the development, manufacture, and marketing of integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. The company is a leading entity in the genomic sequencing space, providing technologies that serve as catalysts for discoveries in genomics research. Among its key projects and initiatives, Illumina focuses on advancing precision medicine by creating tools and systems that enable large-scale analysis of genetic material. These technological advancements facilitate a plethora of applications, including cancer diagnostics, complex disease understanding, and agricultural biology. Through strategic partnerships and continual innovation, Illumina strives to enhance the capabilities of genomic sequencing and expand its application in science and healthcare.
Recent analyst actions
| Date | Analyst | Prior | Latest recommendation | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 9, 2026 | UBS | Neutral | Buy | upgrade |
| September 3, 2026 | Argus Research | Buy | Buy | maintained |
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.