LENZ Therapeutics: Was That A Market Overreaction?

Robert J. Lake786 FollowersFollow5ShareSavePlay(27min)CommentsSummaryLENZ Therapeutics, Inc. shares fell ~30% after a reported adverse event with VIZZ, but I do not view this as thesis-destroying.VIZZ offers superior efficacy and duration versus competitors, yet faces potentially slow market adoption and entrenched alternatives like glasses, contacts, and LASIK.LENZ's $3 billion market opportunity is plausible but hinges on shifting consumer behavior and overcoming negative sentiment from recent safety news.With a moderate valuation and ample cash, I rate LENZ shares a Buy, but remain cautious due to market penetration risks and established competition. eternalcreative/iStock via Getty Images Recent News On Friday last week, shares of LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ) fell around 25% after news broke of an “adverse event” from its leading drug, VIZZ. Shares have continued to fall in the aftermath, now down aroundThis article was written byRobert J. Lake786 FollowersFollowI have been investing in the stock market since I was 17 years old, and over the 25+ years since I have learned the joy of compounding, the value of dividend reinvesting, and the principle that patient investing through good times and bad brings the greatest rewards. I believe the key to creating wealth is the slow accumulation of high quality assets, and the key to enjoying the process of investing is to mix this steady approach with some high risk/high reward opportunities, underappreciated turnaround plays, and transformative technologies. I invest with integrity, only putting my money into companies and industries that aim to make the world a better place.I would consider myself an amateur investor, entirely self-taught with no formal education in investing or business, but smart at figuring out who is worth listening to. I read widely and embrace the notion that my own growth comes from learning from others. In my other life, I have been teaching at the college/university level for over 20 years. I have a PhD from Brunel University and am an accomplished academic writer and editor.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.