Gene-editing stocks are shares of biotechnology companies that focus on modifying DNA. How important are these stocks? A brief anecdote might explain it best.
In 2020, American biochemist Jennifer Doudna and French microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their discovery of the CRISPR gene-editing technology. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences summed up the significance of their discovery by saying, “This year’s prize is about rewriting the code of life.”
Gene-editing companies using CRISPR technology have the potential to treat and even cure diseases caused by genetic variants. CRISPR (pronounced “crisper”) is an acronym for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. The gene-editing market is projected to reach $30.8 billion by 2032.
Top gene-editing companies to consider
These are some of the gene-editing companies investors should have on their watch list:
| Name and ticker | Market cap | Dividend yield | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NTLA) | $1.6 billion | 0.00% | Biotechnology |
| CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) | $5.4 billion | 0.00% | Biotechnology |
| Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BEAM) | $2.7 billion | 0.00% | Biotechnology |
| Caribou Biosciences (NASDAQ:CRBU) | $170.1 million | 0.00% | Biotechnology |
| Sangamo Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SGMO) | $140.3 million | 0.00% | Biotechnology |
1. Intellia Therapeutics

NASDAQ: NTLA
Key Data Points
2. CRISPR Therapeutics

NASDAQ: CRSP
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3. Beam Therapeutics

NASDAQ: BEAM
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4. Caribou Biosciences

NASDAQ: CRBU
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5. Sangamo Therapeutics

NASDAQ: SGMO
Key Data Points
Investing in gene-editing stocks
Gene-editing stocks center on CRISPR, a technology adapted from a natural bacterial defense system that can precisely cut and modify DNA. In 2012, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier showed how CRISPR-associated proteins, guided by lab-designed RNA, could target specific genes in virtually any cell. That breakthrough opened the door to potential “one-and-done” treatments for genetic diseases in humans, as well as applications in plants and animals. Since then, gene editing has been described as a transformative technology with the potential to reshape medicine.
Companies like Intellia, CRISPR Therapeutics, and Beam are racing to bring these therapies to market, often with the support of large pharmaceutical partners. Still, the space can be complex and volatile. Stock prices often swing on clinical trial results or research updates, and progress can take years. For many investors, a basket approach -- owning several gene-editing companies and holding for the long term -- can help manage risk. For patient, buy-and-hold investors, gene-editing stocks offer a way to participate in what could be a major genomic revolution and the creation of significant long-term value if these technologies successfully cure disease.
Risks and challenges of investing in gene-editing stocks
While investing in gene-editing stocks holds the potential for generative significant returns over the long term, it also comes with several risks and challenges. These include:
- High volatility.
- Capital requirements could lead to the dilution of the value of existing shares.
- Risk of failure in clinical trials.
- Risk of failure in securing regulatory approvals.
- Potential reimbursement hurdles after approval.
How to buy gene-editing stocks
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.


