Exact Sciences stock holds above consensus target after Abbott deal
Published on 09/19/2026 at 20:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Exact Sciences stock (ISIN US30063P1057) is trading near USD 104 on Nasdaq as of September 18, 2026, putting the shares modestly above a consensus price target of USD 98.21 that points to around 6.4% downside from current levels according to MarketBeat.
Stock price and market positioning
According to MarketBeat, Exact Sciences shares recently traded at USD 104.91 within a 50-day range of about USD 102 to USD 105 as of September 18, 2026, keeping the stock close to its 52-week high of USD 104.98 and far above the 52-week low of USD 38.81 noted over the past year.
At that price level, the company’s market capitalization stands near USD 20.03 billion as of September 18, 2026, placing Exact Sciences among the larger pure-play molecular diagnostics names in the US market per data compiled by MarketBeat.
Analyst consensus and implied downside
The current analyst consensus compiled by MarketBeat assigns Exact Sciences stock an average rating score of 1.95 on its scale, based on 19 hold ratings and 1 sell rating, with no strong buy or buy recommendations reported as of September 19, 2026.
The same overview shows a consensus price target of USD 98.21 for Exact Sciences, which is approximately 6.4% below the recent share price of USD 104.91 as of September 18, 2026, indicating that on average analysts see limited near-term upside and in fact modest downside from current levels according to MarketBeat.
Abbott acquisition reshapes the story
A major strategic catalyst for Exact Sciences is the announced acquisition by Abbott Laboratories, which was described as a USD 21 billion cash transaction that aims to expand Abbott’s presence in cancer diagnostics according to a feature in The Globe and Mail published on September 18, 2026.
The article notes that Abbott’s roughly USD 21 billion cash acquisition of Exact Sciences could allow Abbott to eventually establish itself as a leader in the cancer diagnostics market, highlighting how Exact Sciences’ portfolio in colorectal and multi-cancer early detection fits into a broader strategy for long-term growth in diagnostics according to The Globe and Mail.
Implications for investors and risks
For Exact Sciences shareholders, the key question now is how the agreed acquisition terms compare to current market pricing, given that the stock is trading above the consensus standalone price target yet below the implied valuation of roughly USD 21 billion in enterprise value indicated by the deal size referenced by The Globe and Mail.
At the same time, the analyst consensus skewed toward hold and one sell rating suggests caution about potential execution risks and integration challenges, especially as Abbott absorbs Exact Sciences’ molecular diagnostics operations and continues to invest in multi-cancer early detection technologies according to data compiled by MarketBeat.
Stock level relative to 52-week range
With Exact Sciences stock trading just below its 52-week high of USD 104.98 and far above the 52-week low of USD 38.81 as of September 18, 2026, the shares currently sit near the top of their one-year range according to MarketBeat, reflecting how investor expectations have risen significantly over the past year as the Abbott transaction and Exact Sciences’ role in cancer diagnostics have come into focus.
Exact Sciences stock on Nasdaq
As of the last completed trading day before publication, Exact Sciences stock closed on Nasdaq at about USD 104.91 on September 18, 2026, leaving the shares slightly above the average analyst price target of USD 98.21 and close to the 52-week high of USD 104.98, with a market capitalization around USD 20.03 billion according to data from MarketBeat.
Exact Sciences stock facts
- Company: Exact Sciences Corporation
- ISIN: US30063P1057
- Ticker: EXAS
- Trading venue: Nasdaq
- Price (as of September 18, 2026): 104.91 USD
- Market capitalization: 20.03 billion USD (as of September 18, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Health Care / Diagnostics
- Index membership: Nasdaq indices
