Rocketing prices and takeover speculation! Steyr Motors, Evotec, and Defence Therapeutics!

Defence Therapeutics: Undervalued, takeover soon?

With a 64% increase year-to-date, the stock of Defence Therapeutics is one of the biotech high flyers of 2025. This is likely to be just the beginning of a larger rally, as the Company is still worth well under EUR 100 million and plans to take significant steps towards monetization this year.

The Canadian biotech company is focused on novel immuno-oncology vaccines, radiopharmaceuticals, and novel ADC products. To achieve this, they use their self-developed platform and drug delivery technologies. In order to generate income in addition to the proprietary drugs in development, the Accum technology is to be licensed out to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that develop antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”). With Defence's technology, the effectiveness of ADCs can be enhanced, thereby reducing the required dosage. Defence sees two advantages in licensing: First, it opens up an immediate revenue stream, and second, it helps establish its own technology as the industry standard in the ADC development process.

Yesterday, the stock reacted positively to a personnel announcement. In April 2025, Dr. Elias Theodorou will take over the role of COO at Defence Therapeutics. He has 25 years of experience in molecular biology and cancer research. Particular emphasis is placed on his ability to transform complex scientific concepts into market-ready applications. That is exactly what Defence currently needs.

With these successes, Defence Therapeutics not only comes a great deal closer to monetization but also becomes a takeover candidate. Therefore, the share price still appears to have further potential.

Steyr Motors: Takeovers in Europe and Asia?

Until a few weeks ago, Steyr Motors was a niche stock. Since the Austrian diesel engine manufacturer announced a cooperation with a subsidiary of Rheinmetall, this has changed abruptly. Due to the low free float of the second-tier stock, the share price has fluctuated massively since then. And now Steyr Motors is not only riding the defense wave but also aims to grow through acquisitions. The Company is exploring the market for external acquisitions to expand its portfolio and achieve even more aggressive growth.

Steyr expects very high demand from European and international allies. As a continental supplier, the Austrians want to benefit from this strongly. In order to further accelerate growth, acquisitions in Europe and Asia, in particular, are currently being examined. Steyr CEO Julian Cassutti comments: "We are currently actively exploring acquisition targets in the market to further accelerate the exceptionally strong demand for our products and to broaden our geographic and product range. With these potential acquisitions, Steyr Motors' growth targets can be significantly exceeded again by 2027. We are at the beginning of an exciting journey, and I look forward to our successes in 2025 and beyond."

Evotec: Turnaround or Sell?

Evotec was considered a hot takeover candidate, but that was last year. In 2025, the German biotech company's shares are struggling – especially when compared to the performance of high flyers such as Defence Therapeutics. Evotec's shares have fallen significantly from over EUR 8 at the beginning of the year and are threatening to fall below the EUR 6 mark. Analysts' opinions differ widely. If Deutsche Bank has its way, shareholders will have to brace themselves for further price declines. The analysts see a fair value of only EUR 4 and rate the stock a “Sell”.

Warburg Research is more optimistic. Their analysts recommend the Evotec share as a “Buy”. The target price is set at EUR 14. In the analysts' view, the biotech company still has turnaround potential. However, they believe this will likely come at a higher cost than initially anticipated.

Defence Therapeutics remains a hot stock for 2025. With the licensing of its own platform, the Company could unlock an exciting revenue stream. Positive news is also expected in terms of the Company's own research. The stock appears to be anything but expensive and could benefit from takeover speculation. Steyr is skillfully riding the defense and takeover wave. However, investors seem to recognize that the Company is still very small, and the valuation is quite ambitious. As for Evotec, momentum seems to have fizzled out.