Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ: TWST) is drawing fresh attention on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, as the stock trades sharply higher amid a mix of new partnership-related headlines, recent product launches, and updated Wall Street price targets. At the same time, investors are weighing Twist’s push toward higher gross margins and management’s goal to reach adjusted EBITDA breakeven by fiscal Q4 2026—a key milestone in the company’s multi-year path from high-growth to sustainable profitability. [1]
Below is a comprehensive, publication-ready roundup of the most current TWST news, forecasts, and analyst commentary available as of 17.12.2025, plus the key datapoints to watch into 2026.
TWST stock price action on Dec. 17, 2025
As of late morning U.S. Eastern time on Dec. 17, 2025, TWST traded around $33, up roughly 6%–7% on the day, reflecting a notable risk-on move for a volatile, heavily watched biotech tools name. [2]
Key intraday reference points:
This kind of swing is not unusual for TWST, which has a significant short interest and often reacts quickly to incremental news flow, rating changes, and growth/profitability signals. [5]
What’s new for Twist Bioscience: the Dec. 17, 2025 news roundup
Here are the most relevant, current developments investors are digesting around TWST right now:
1) Licensing agreement tied to Twist’s PCR/NGS ecosystem (announced Dec. 16, 2025)
Aptamer Group plc announced a licensing agreement with Twist Bioscience covering a non-exclusive license for an “Optimer” binder intended for use in existing and future hot-start PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) products. Under the agreement, Aptamer will supply the binder directly to Twist. [6]
Why it matters for TWST investors:
While the commercial impact is not quantified in the announcement, the headline fits TWST’s broader strategy of strengthening its NGS applications portfolio and associated workflows—areas that management has framed as key growth drivers and product innovation zones. [7]
2) Analyst price target raised (Barclays; Dec. 15, 2025)
In recent analyst updates, Barclays maintained an Overweight/Buy stance and raised its price target from $37 to $39 (reported Dec. 15, 2025). [8]
Why it matters:
For a stock like TWST—where investor debate often centers on the timing of profitability and the durability of demand in NGS and synthetic biology—incremental target moves can influence sentiment quickly, especially when the name is already heavily traded and shorted. [9]
3) Product expansion in plasmid DNA preps (announced Dec. 4, 2025)
Twist announced it launched research-grade Plasmid DNA Preps designed to support nucleic acid therapeutics research. The offering highlights include animal origin-free options, transfection-grade preps, and stated turnaround times beginning at four business days for certain “Express Genes” workflows. [10]
Why it matters:
Plasmid preparation is a foundational workflow in many discovery and preclinical programs. New prep offerings can strengthen Twist’s position as a broader supplier to pharma/biotech R&D—particularly if the company can compete on speed, consistency, and scale, which are core elements of Twist’s platform value proposition. [11]
4) Shareholder “investigation” headlines in December (context, not a fundamental operating update)
In the past couple of weeks, at least one investor-rights law firm release stated it is investigating whether certain officers/directors breached fiduciary duties (a type of announcement that is common across public companies and does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing). [12]
Why it matters:
These headlines can add noise to the news cycle and occasionally affect sentiment, but they typically do not change Twist’s operating fundamentals unless they evolve into material litigation developments disclosed in filings.
Twist Bioscience fundamentals: the financial story investors are trading
Even with day-to-day volatility, TWST ultimately trades on a longer-running narrative: revenue growth + gross margin expansion + progress toward breakeven.
Fiscal 2025 results: higher revenue, sharply improved margins, smaller losses
In its fiscal 2025 results (year ended Sept. 30, 2025), Twist reported:
- Revenue:$376.6 million (up from $313.0 million in fiscal 2024) [13]
- Gross margin:50.7% (vs. 42.6% in fiscal 2024) [14]
- Net loss:$77.7 million (or $1.30 per share), improved from $208.7 million (or $3.60 per share) in fiscal 2024 [15]
- Cash, cash equivalents & short-term investments:$232.4 million as of Sept. 30, 2025 [16]
For fiscal Q4 2025 specifically:
- Revenue:$99.0 million (up 17% year-over-year) [17]
- Gross margin:51.3% [18]
- Net loss:$27.1 million (or $0.45 per share) [19]
- Adjusted EBITDA:$(7.8) million in Q4, and $(46.9) million for the full fiscal year [20]
The takeaway: TWST’s margin profile is materially better than it was a year earlier, and the losses have narrowed—fueling the market’s recurring question: how soon can Twist cross into breakeven territory if growth holds?
TWST guidance and company forecast: what Twist expects in fiscal 2026
Twist’s own outlook is one of the most important “forecasts” investors have today—because it shapes expectations for both the top line and profitability trajectory.
For fiscal 2026, Twist guided:
- Total revenue:$425 million to $435 million (13% to 15.5% growth year over year) [21]
- Gross margin:above 52% [22]
- Adjusted EBITDA breakeven: targeted for fiscal Q4 2026 [23]
For fiscal Q1 2026, Twist guided:
- Revenue:$100 million to $101 million [24]
A key nuance: segment reporting changes
Beginning in fiscal Q1 2026, Twist said it will combine SynBio and Biopharma revenue into a broader category called DNA Synthesis and Protein Solutions, while the NGS segment will be referred to as NGS Applications. [25]
Another nuance: NGS customer transition and MRD expectations
In management commentary captured in an earnings call transcript, Twist discussed a large diagnostic customer transitioning an assay from research to commercial, with a re-acceleration of purchasing expected in fiscal Q2 2026. The same transcript indicates Twist’s NGS forecast assumes roughly 1–2 percentage points of growth for MRD in fiscal 2026, with a bigger ramp later (late 2026 into 2027). [26]
Why this matters: It suggests TWST’s near-term NGS growth may not be perfectly linear quarter-to-quarter—an important consideration for investors trying to time entries around earnings.
Analyst forecasts for TWST stock: price targets, ratings, and what changed recently
Analyst sentiment on TWST remains broadly constructive, but not uniform.
Consensus price target snapshot (as of Dec. 17, 2025)
Multiple aggregators show a similar overall picture:
- Average/consensus price target around $44.88
- Target range roughly $33 (low) to $62 (high)
- Overall consensus leaning Buy / Moderate Buy [27]
For example:
- StockAnalysis shows 8 analysts with an average target of $44.88 and a “Buy” consensus rating. [28]
- MarketBeat summarizes 10 analysts, with an average target of $44.88 and a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating. [29]
Recent notable analyst actions
Recent updates highlighted by the same sources include:
- Barclays: raised target $37 → $39 (Dec. 15, 2025) [30]
- Stephens: initiated coverage with a target around $41 (Nov. 4, 2025) [31]
- Evercore ISI: adjusted target $46 → $42 (Oct. 7, 2025) [32]
How to read this for SEO-minded investors:
A ~$45 consensus target against a ~$33 trading price implies the Street sees meaningful upside if Twist executes on 2026 margin and growth goals. But the wide range ($33 to $62) shows that outcomes are still debated.
Short interest and volatility: why TWST can move fast
One reason TWST frequently delivers outsized daily moves—up or down—is positioning.
As of the Nov. 14, 2025 record date (the most recent report cited on the source), TWST had:
- Short interest: about 10.9 million shares
- Short percent of float:~18.38%
- Days to cover:~5.9 [33]
High short interest can amplify:
- Rallies, if positive catalysts force short covering
- Selloffs, if earnings/guidance disappoint and momentum turns negative
This is particularly relevant into major events like earnings and guidance resets.
Earnings date watch: when is the next TWST report?
As of Dec. 17, 2025, Twist has not (in the sources above) clearly confirmed the next report date, and third-party calendars vary.
- Nasdaq’s earnings calendar estimates TWST will report around Feb. 2, 2026 (algorithm-based). [34]
- Zacks also points to Feb. 2, 2026 based on reporting patterns. [35]
- Other calendars project late January 2026 (for example, MarketScreener lists Jan. 29, 2026 as projected). [36]
Practical implication: Investors often treat this as a late-January/early-February “earnings window,” with heightened volatility as the date firms up.
What investors should watch next: the TWST checklist for 2026
For market participants tracking Twist Bioscience stock into 2026, these are the key swing factors that can drive narrative—and valuation—changes:
1) Can Twist hit the margin targets?
Twist guided for gross margin above 52% in fiscal 2026. Sustained margin expansion is central to the bull case because it supports the path to breakeven without requiring extreme top-line acceleration. [37]
2) Can TWST deliver the breakeven milestone?
Management’s stated objective is adjusted EBITDA breakeven in fiscal Q4 2026. For many investors, that date functions like a “credibility checkpoint.” [38]
3) NGS demand and customer concentration dynamics
Commentary around a large diagnostic customer transition suggests potential lumpiness in the NGS revenue cadence, even if the annual trajectory remains positive. [39]
4) Commercial impact from recent product and partnership headlines
- The plasmid DNA preps launch expands Twist’s toolbox for therapeutics research customers. [40]
- The Aptamer licensing deal points to ongoing ecosystem building in PCR/NGS workflows, though revenue impact isn’t specified publicly. [41]
Investors will be watching for any concrete metrics: adoption, attach rates, margin effects, or customer wins tied to these offerings.
Bottom line on Twist Bioscience stock on Dec. 17, 2025
TWST is rallying on Dec. 17 as investors weigh a cluster of developments: a new licensing agreement linked to PCR/NGS products, a recent analyst target increase, and a December product launch that broadens Twist’s offering into plasmid DNA prep workflows. [42]
But the main engine of the longer-term thesis remains the same: whether Twist can translate double-digit growth and rising gross margins into its stated goal of adjusted EBITDA breakeven by fiscal Q4 2026—all while navigating customer transitions and the inherently volatile sentiment around biotech tools. [43]
References
1. www.sec.gov, 2. www.investing.com, 3. www.investing.com, 4. www.investing.com, 5. www.marketbeat.com, 6. www.investegate.co.uk, 7. www.investegate.co.uk, 8. stockanalysis.com, 9. www.marketbeat.com, 10. www.businesswire.com, 11. www.businesswire.com, 12. www.businesswire.com, 13. www.sec.gov, 14. www.sec.gov, 15. www.sec.gov, 16. www.sec.gov, 17. www.sec.gov, 18. www.sec.gov, 19. www.sec.gov, 20. www.sec.gov, 21. www.sec.gov, 22. www.sec.gov, 23. www.sec.gov, 24. www.sec.gov, 25. www.sec.gov, 26. www.investing.com, 27. stockanalysis.com, 28. stockanalysis.com, 29. www.marketbeat.com, 30. stockanalysis.com, 31. stockanalysis.com, 32. stockanalysis.com, 33. www.marketbeat.com, 34. www.nasdaq.com, 35. www.zacks.com, 36. www.marketscreener.com, 37. www.sec.gov, 38. www.sec.gov, 39. www.investing.com, 40. www.businesswire.com, 41. www.investegate.co.uk, 42. www.investegate.co.uk, 43. www.sec.gov
