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7 Top Gene-Editing Stocks to Buy

By U.S. News & World Report

Gene therapy and gene editing are marvels of modern biotechnology, providing revolutionary techniques for fixing genetic abnormalities.

Gene therapy introduces functional genetic material to treat diseases at the cellular level, but gene editing takes this technology even further by directly altering the genome itself.

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Analysts at Research and Markets forecast the gene editing market to grow 16.6% annually and reach $23.6 billion by 2031. This incredible growth trajectory highlights gene editing’s potential to redefine medical treatments in the coming decade and create significant long-term opportunities for investors. Here are seven of Bank of America analysts’ top gene-editing stocks to buy:

Stock Implied upside*
Eli Lilly & Co. (ticker: LLY) 27%
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) 19%
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN) 12%
CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP) 39%
Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) 56%
Sana Biotechnology Inc. (SANA) 64%
Caribou Biosciences Inc. (CRBU) 202%

*From Feb. 26 close.

Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY)

Eli Lilly produces brand-name prescription drugs to treat a wide range of medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer and neurological disorders. It has also aggressively invested in gene editing, including its 2025 acquisition of cardiovascular disease gene-editing company Verve Therapeutics and its recent $1.2 billion deal with Seamless Therapeutics, which is developing gene-editing treatments for hearing loss. Lilly isn’t a pure-play gene-editing stock, but analyst Jason Gerberry says GLP-1 obesity drugs will support elevated revenue growth over the next decade. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $1,293 price target for LLY stock, which closed at $1,022.02 on Feb. 26.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing therapies to treat cystic fibrosis. Vertex also owns the rights to 60% of the profits from sales of CRISPR Therapeutics’ gene-editing therapy exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy), which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating sickle cell disease in December 2023 and for treating transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia just six weeks later. Vertex is also developing a gene-editing therapy for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Analyst Tazeen Ahmad says Casgevy is one of several key growth catalysts in Vertex’s diversified portfolio. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $571 price target for VRTX stock, which closed at $480.13 on Feb. 26.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a biotech company focused on developing therapies to treat metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases, cancer and respiratory conditions. Regeneron is developing a targeted gene insertion platform that combines CRISPR technologies and gene delivery using adeno-associated viruses to improve the durability of genetic medicines used to treat disorders that require early intervention, such as Pompe disease and hemophilia B. Regeneron and partner Intellia were the first team to successfully use CRISPR to treat transthyretin amyloidosis in a single dose. Ahmad says Regeneron’s retinal disease drug Eylea HD could be a major bullish catalyst in 2026. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $860 price target for REGN stock, which closed at $770.79 on Feb. 26.

[READ: 5 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks and ETFs to Buy for 2026]

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP)

CRISPR Therapeutics is a biotech company that uses gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 for hemoglobinopathy — or blood disorders — and oncology applications. CRISPR gets 40% of the profits from FDA-approved Casgevy, and its leading gene-editing treatments in development include wholly-owned CTX310 and CTX320 for cardiovascular disease. Analyst Alec Stranahan says CRISPR is strategically exploring CRISPR-Cas9 in markets that have large commercial upside and significant unmet needs. Stranahan says CRISPR’s encouraging pipeline data give him confidence the company will create significant value for investors. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $86 price target for CRSP stock, which closed at $61.74 on Feb. 26.

Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM)

Beam Therapeutics uses CRISPR technology to change single bases in the genome with a technique called base editing, which only breaks one strand of the DNA and may have higher cell survival rates. Its lead programs include liver disease-targeted BEAM-302 for treating alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and BEAM-301 for treating glycogen storage disease type Ia. Stranahan says BEAM-302 has set the efficacy bar for competitors to chase, and he says investors will be closely monitoring additional trial data on BEAM-301, BEAM-302 and other competing therapies. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $45 price target for BEAM stock, which closed at $28.92 on Feb. 26.

Sana Biotechnology Inc. (SANA)

Sana Biotechnology researches and develops engineered cells used as medicine. The company’s proprietary gene-editing mechanism blinds a patient’s immune system to engineered therapeutic cells, potentially increasing efficacy. Sana is using its expertise in stem cells, gene editing and immunology to pursue a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The company also has an in vivo CAR-T program for B-cell related diseases that is in the pre-clinical stage. Stranahan says Sana has provided proof-of-concept that its UP421 treatment for Type 1 diabetes can permit cell survival without requiring lifelong immunosuppression. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $7 price target for SANA stock, which closed at $4.27 on Feb. 26.

Caribou Biosciences Inc. (CRBU)

Caribou Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech company developing gene-edited allogeneic, or universal, cell therapies to treat hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases. The stock took a big hit in March 2024 when the company announced it was pausing development of allogeneic cell therapy CB-020. However, Caribou still has two clinical programs in place: Vispa-cel for treating patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and CB-011 for treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Stranahan says Caribou’s share price suggests its lead assets are undervalued. Bank of America has a “buy” rating and $6 price target for CRBU stock, which closed at $1.99 on Feb. 26.

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7 Top Gene-Editing Stocks to Buy originally appeared on usnews.com

Update 02/27/26: This story was previously published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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