What Happened?
Shares of healthcare diagnostics company QuidelOrtho (NASDAQ: QDEL) jumped 4.5% in the afternoon session after its CEO, Brian J. Blaser, purchased 23,500 shares of the company for a total of $501,577.
This significant insider purchase, at an average cost of $21.34 per share, was seen by investors as a strong signal of confidence from the company's leadership. A large stock purchase by a top executive often suggests they believe the company's shares are undervalued or that positive developments are ahead. This display of conviction from the CEO likely boosted investor sentiment and attracted more buyers to the stock.
After the initial pop the shares cooled down to $27.62, up 3.8% from previous close.
Is now the time to buy QuidelOrtho? Access our full analysis report here.
What Is The Market Telling Us
QuidelOrtho’s shares are extremely volatile and have had 35 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was about 22 hours ago when the stock gained 7.7% on the news that reports revealed the Trump administration considered extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
These subsidies, which are government financial aids to help people pay for health insurance, are crucial for insurers as they maintain a stable customer base. An extension would ensure continued revenue for companies with significant exposure to the ACA marketplace. The news prompted a strong positive reaction from investors, with Centene (CNC) shares jumping as much as 8%, Molina Healthcare (MOH) rising over 3%, and Oscar Health (OSCR) soaring 18%. The potential for a two-year extension reduces regulatory uncertainty for the sector, which investors view as a significant positive for the industry's outlook.
QuidelOrtho is down 38.7% since the beginning of the year, and at $27.62 per share, it is trading 42% below its 52-week high of $47.61 from January 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of QuidelOrtho’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $152.77.
Microsoft, Alphabet, Coca-Cola, Monster Beverage—all began as under-the-radar growth stories riding a massive trend. We’ve identified the next one: a profitable AI semiconductor play Wall Street is still overlooking.Go here for access to our full report.
