- Wells Fargo increased its price target for Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE: BIO) to $310, signaling a positive outlook for the global supplier of life science research and clinical diagnostics tools.
- Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a significant stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories, aiming to influence strategy and unlock value, especially after a 70% stock decline from its peak.
- Bio-Rad Laboratories‘ substantial $5 billion investment in Sartorius, coupled with Elliott Investment Management‘s dual investment in both companies, presents a unique opportunity for strategic changes to improve financial performance and shareholder returns.
On May 25, 2026, Wells Fargo raises its price target for Bio-Rad Laboratories (NYSE: BIO) to $310 from a previous target of $290. Bio-Rad Laboratories is a global supplier of tools and services for the life science research and clinical diagnostics markets. The analyst update occurs while BIO’s stock price is $287.74.
This positive outlook comes as activist investor Elliott Investment Management builds a large stake in Bio-Rad Laboratories. An activist investor is a person or group that buys a significant amount of a company’s stock. They use this ownership to influence the company’s management and strategy, often to increase the stock’s value.
The interest from Elliott Investment Management follows a period of significant strain for the company. As highlighted by The Wall Street Journal, BIO’s shares have collapsed by more than 70% from their peak in late 2021. Such a large drop in price can attract investors who see an opportunity to push for changes and unlock value.
A key point of focus is Bio-Rad Laboratories’ large investment in the German company Sartorius. BIO’s stake in Sartorius is valued at about $5 billion. This is a substantial part of BIO’s own market capitalization, which is approximately $7.78 billion. This large holding could be central to an activist’s strategy.
Elliott Investment Management is also a large investor in Sartorius, creating a unique situation. This dual investment may allow Elliott Investment Management to push for changes regarding Bio-Rad Laboratories’ structure or its relationship with Sartorius. Such actions could be aimed at improving Bio-Rad Laboratories’ financial performance and shareholder returns, supporting the higher price target from Wells Fargo.
