Align Technology (NASDAQ:ALGN) Cut to Sell (D+) at Weiss Ratings

Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Align Technology (NASDAQ:ALGN) from a hold (c-) rating to a sell (d+) rating in a research note published on Wednesday morning,Weiss Ratings reports.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Align Technology from $246.00 to $199.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Align Technology from $275.00 to $200.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $154.00 price target (down from $249.00) on shares of Align Technology in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Mizuho set a $210.00 price target on shares of Align Technology in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Align Technology from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $200.00.

Align Technology Trading Down 4.6%

Shares of NASDAQ ALGN opened at $125.79 on Wednesday. Align Technology has a 12 month low of $122.00 and a 12 month high of $246.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.12 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.70. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $135.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $164.40.

Align Technology (NASDAQ:ALGN) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.57 by ($0.08). Align Technology had a return on equity of 13.36% and a net margin of 11.04%.The company had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.41 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Align Technology has set its Q3 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Align Technology will post 7.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Align Technology announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, August 5th that permits the company to buyback $200.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the medical equipment provider to purchase up to 2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Joseph M. Hogan acquired 7,576 shares of Align Technology stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $131.49 per share, for a total transaction of $996,168.24. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 184,945 shares in the company, valued at $24,318,418.05. This trade represents a 4.27% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.66% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Align Technology

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Align Technology by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,441,592 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,341,031,000 after purchasing an additional 185,187 shares in the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Align Technology by 58.7% during the 1st quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 1,937,555 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $307,800,000 after acquiring an additional 716,954 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Align Technology by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,219,715 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $193,764,000 after acquiring an additional 137,553 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Align Technology by 31.0% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 926,733 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $175,458,000 after acquiring an additional 219,219 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN boosted its holdings in shares of Align Technology by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Disciplined Growth Investors Inc. MN now owns 844,987 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $159,981,000 after acquiring an additional 7,754 shares during the last quarter. 88.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Align Technology Company Profile

Align Technology, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets Invisalign clear aligners, and iTero intraoral scanners and services for orthodontists and general practitioner dentists in the United States, Switzerland, and internationally. The company's Clear Aligner segment offers comprehensive products, including Invisalign comprehensive package that addresses the orthodontic needs of younger patients, such as mandibular advancement, compliance indicators, and compensation for tooth eruption; and Invisalign First Phase I and Invisalign First Comprehensive Phase 2 package for younger patients generally between the ages of six and ten years, which is a mixture of primary/baby and permanent teeth.