GRAIL Shares Plummet After Clinical Trial Failure
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
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Should l Buy HIMS?
Source: seekingalpha
- Trial Failure: GRAIL (GRAL) shares plummeted on Thursday after its NHS-Galleri trial failed to meet its primary endpoint, undermining confidence in its multi-cancer screening test just two weeks after launching Galleri on the Hims & Hers (HIMS) platform.
- Large-Scale Data: The trial involved over 140,000 participants in the U.K. National Health Service and did not demonstrate a significant reduction in severe cancer cases, which could impact the FDA approval process, although analysts believe the risk of FDA approval remains low.
- Market Reaction: Hims & Hers launched Galleri with a $250 discount to attract customers, but the trial failure may weaken market confidence in the product, potentially affecting sales growth expectations.
- Future Outlook: Despite challenges, GRAIL reiterated its 2026 sales growth guidance for Galleri at 22%-32% and plans to expand its sales force to mitigate the impact of the NHS-Galleri trial, indicating the company's confidence in future market opportunities.
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Analyst Views on HIMS
Wall Street analysts forecast HIMS stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
6 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 15.820
Low
16.50
Averages
32.95
High
60.00
Current: 15.820
Low
16.50
Averages
32.95
High
60.00
About HIMS
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. provides a consumer-first platform, which helps customers to fulfill their health and wellness needs. Its platform includes access to a provider network, a clinically focused electronic medical record system, digital prescriptions, cloud pharmacy fulfillment, and personalization capabilities. Its digital platform enables access to treatments for a range of chronic conditions, including those related to sexual health, hair loss, dermatology, mental health, and weight loss. It connects patients to licensed healthcare professionals who can prescribe medications when appropriate and prescriptions are fulfilled online through licensed pharmacies on a subscription basis. It also offers access to a range of health and wellness products designed to meet individual needs, which can include curated prescription and non-prescription products. Through its mobile applications, consumers can access a range of educational programs, wellness content, and other services.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Peptide Classification Change: Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on a podcast that 14 peptides will be moved from the FDA's Category 2 list to Category 1, allowing Hims & Hers to legally produce these compounds, thereby enhancing its market competitiveness.
- Surge in Market Demand: With the legalization of these peptides, Hims & Hers can attract consumers currently purchasing from the grey market, which is expected to significantly increase the company's customer base and sales revenue.
- Strong Stock Performance: Hims & Hers shares rose 7.58% to $15.62 on Monday, with an intraday high of $15.79, reflecting optimistic market sentiment regarding the company's future growth potential.
- Technical Indicator Analysis: Despite the recent price rebound, Hims & Hers stock remains below historical moving averages, currently 17.1% below the 20-day SMA and 64.7% below the 200-day SMA, indicating a long-term downtrend; however, the RSI at 15.87 suggests a potential rebound in the short term.
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- FDA Regulatory Action: The FDA issued warning letters to 30 telehealth companies for false or misleading marketing related to compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including Semaglutide and Liraglutide, which may lead to a decline in market trust for these companies.
- Hims Stock Fluctuation: Shares of Hims & Hers Health Inc. fell over 4% to $15.82 following the FDA warning, having lost more than half of their value this year, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future growth prospects.
- Market Reaction: Despite the FDA warnings raising regulatory scrutiny, retail traders largely dismissed the issue as a marketing concern, arguing that the dispute centers on advertising language, with some labeling Hims as a “discount deep value stock,” indicating confidence in the company's fundamentals.
- Peptide Drug Outlook: Investor focus has shifted towards peptides after the Health Secretary indicated a review of approximately 14 previously restricted peptides, with the Futurum Group CEO suggesting that Hims could become a leading public company in the peptide space, hinting at potential growth opportunities ahead.
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- FDA Warning Letters Issued: The U.S. FDA sent warning letters to 30 telehealth firms for using “false and misleading claims” to market low-cost compounded GLP-1 drugs, directly impacting Hims & Hers (HIMS) and causing its stock to decline.
- Increased Regulatory Pressure: Hims & Hers was forced to withdraw a compounded version of Novo's newly launched Wegovy oral GLP-1 therapy, which was sold at a significant discount, highlighting the FDA's stringent oversight of market practices.
- Market Reaction: Following a more than 13% gain in the previous session, Hims & Hers' stock fell due to the FDA's warning letters, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future market performance amid an increasingly strict regulatory environment.
- Industry Impact: The FDA's warnings are part of a broader crackdown initiated in September, indicating heightened scrutiny of pharmaceutical and telehealth companies regarding deceptive advertising, which could have far-reaching implications for industry marketing strategies.
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- Stock Ranking Changes: In February, stocks like Palantir, AMD, and Amazon re-entered the top ten, indicating sustained market interest, particularly as Palantir rebounded to fourth place after not ranking in the top 12 in January, reflecting investor confidence in its growth potential.
- Micron and SanDisk Rise: Micron jumped from 11th to 4th place, while SanDisk moved from 12th to 10th, showcasing strong market interest in the semiconductor sector, especially against a backdrop of robust tech stock performance, which may further drive investment enthusiasm.
- Nvidia's Upward Trend: Nvidia's search ranking increased by two spots in February, demonstrating investor recognition of its technological innovations and market performance, despite a year-to-date return of -3.4%, its one-year return stands at 60%, indicating continued favor for its long-term growth potential.
- iShares Silver Trust Decline: Although the iShares Silver Trust remained in the top five in February, it dropped two places, reflecting market sensitivity to silver price fluctuations, as investors may be seeking assets with greater growth potential.
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- Market Response: Strive Pharmacy plans to introduce a compounded version of Novo Nordisk's newly launched oral obesity therapy, Wegovy, following Hims & Hers' withdrawal last month, demonstrating sensitivity to market demand.
- Compliance Challenges: Hims & Hers halted sales shortly after launching a low-cost compounded Wegovy due to regulatory scrutiny and a lawsuit from Novo Nordisk, resulting in the destruction of manufactured pills, highlighting the complexities of market competition.
- Operational Adjustments: Strive's Chief Compliance Officer noted that while a timeline for reintroduction is not set, the company has established operations to meet Hims & Hers' demand forecasts for the semaglutide pill, showcasing its ability to adapt to market changes.
- Strategic Reset: Following Hims & Hers' product withdrawal, Strive Pharmacy must adjust its operational strategy to fit the new market environment, a process that could impact not only its short-term business but also its long-term market positioning.
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- Peptide Reclassification: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the FDA is reviewing restrictions on approximately 14 peptides, with potential reinstatement for legal production in the coming weeks, which has already led to a nearly 14% surge in Hims & Hers stock price.
- Market Potential: Analysts project the peptide market could exceed $100 billion by 2030, positioning Hims & Hers favorably with its 2.5 million members and a peptide facility acquired in California last year, enhancing its competitive edge in this rapidly growing sector.
- Strategic Company Adjustments: Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum noted that while GLP-1 users represent a small fraction of subscribers, the company is diversifying into hormone therapy and lab diagnostics, indicating a broader preventive health strategy.
- Investor Sentiment Shift: Despite Hims & Hers stock declining nearly 50% year-to-date, market sentiment on social platforms reflects optimism about the future of peptide therapies, suggesting confidence in the company's growth potential in this emerging market.
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