Shareholders will be ecstatic, with their stake up 32% over the past week following Starling Oncology, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:STLN) latest quarterly results. Revenues of US$161m beat expectations by a respectable 3.9%, although statutory losses per share increased. Starling Oncology lost US$0.08, which was 25% more than what the analysts had included in their models. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Taking into account the latest results, the consensus forecast from Starling Oncology's four analysts is for revenues of US$653.7m in 2026. This reflects a notable 11% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. The loss per share is expected to greatly reduce in the near future, narrowing 46% to US$0.16. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$650.5m and losses of US$0.14 per share in 2026. So it's pretty clear the analysts have mixed opinions on Starling Oncology even after this update; although they reconfirmed their revenue numbers, it came at the cost of a noticeable increase in per-share losses.

Despite expectations of heavier losses next year,the analysts have lifted their price target 16% to US$9.00, perhaps implying these losses are not expected to be recurring over the long term. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. The most optimistic Starling Oncology analyst has a price target of US$11.00 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$7.00. Analysts definitely have varying views on the business, but the spread of estimates is not wide enough in our view to suggest that extreme outcomes could await Starling Oncology shareholders.

One way to get more context on these forecasts is to look at how they compare to both past performance, and how other companies in the same industry are performing. The period to the end of 2026 brings more of the same, according to the analysts, with revenue forecast to display 24% growth on an annualised basis. That is in line with its 22% annual growth over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to see their revenues grow 5.0% per year. So it's pretty clear that Starling Oncology is forecast to grow substantially faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts increased their loss per share estimates for next year. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was also a nice increase in the price target, with the analysts clearly feeling that the intrinsic value of the business is improving.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Starling Oncology. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have estimates - from multiple Starling Oncology analysts - going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.