Piper Jaffray analyst Matt O'Brien notes that at the large American Association of Orthodontists meeting, several large dental providers launched clear aligners to compete with Align Technology (ALGN) in the U.S. While he cautions that he is unable to corroborate claims independently, the analyst says that 3M (MMM), Henry Schein (HSIC) and Dentsply Sirona (XRAY) launched systems at the show and several smaller companies did as well. Overall, these introductions were very much expected and O'Brien is still skeptical about their impact on Align in the coming quarters. However, he expects this issue to weigh on the stock for a while until evidence that it is or is not affecting financial results materializes. The analyst reiterates an Overweight rating and $300 price target on Align's shares.

Stifel raised the firm's price target on Align Technology to $400 from $350 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Respondents to the firm's survey point to "solid" 2024 year-over-year case volume growth and while Invisalign's share is expected to step down "modestly" year-over-year, new product feedback is upbeat, says the firm, which adds that it has "an upside bias to our 2024 revenue estimate."