Exact Sciences Corp (EXAS): D. E. Shaw Boosts Stake In High-Flying Stock

David E. Shaw‘s fund, D E Shaw, has increased its investment in Exact Sciences Corp (NASDAQ:EXAS), as reported in a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund now holds a little over 4.9 million shares, which amount to approximately 5% of the company’s common stock, up from 3.28 million shares it reported at the end of the first quarter.

A developer of products for early detection of various forms of cancer, Exact Sciences Corp (NASDAQ:EXAS) has a market cap of $1.78 billion and does not pay a dividend. So far this year, the stock has managed to advance by 102%, although it was dormant up until mid-June when the rally actually begun. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity raised their price target on June 14 after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force had issued a recommendation statement that underlined the potential of the company’s technology.

The stock received another boost on July 26, when Exact Sciences reported second-quarter financial results that surpassed market’s expectations. The company posted $21.2 million in revenue and a loss of $0.46 per share, topping estimates of $18.54 million in revenue and a loss of $0.55 per shareD. E. Shaw.

Hedge fund interest in Exact Sciences Corp (NASDAQ:EXAS) cooled down during the first quarter, as the number of long hedge fund positions dropped to 16 at the end of March, from 20 registered three months earlier. Israel Englander‘s Millennium Management cut its exposure by half and held approximately 1.91 million shares, while Samuel Isaly’s OrbiMed Advisors established a fresh stake in the company and amassed 1.89 million shares by the end of the quarter.

You can access the original SEC filing by clicking here.

Ownership Summary Table

Name Sole Voting Power Shared Voting Power Sole Dispositive Power Shared Dispositive Power Aggregate Amount Owned Power Percent of Class
D. E. Shaw Co. 0 4,901,901 0 4,927,101 4,927,101 5.0%
David E. Shaw 0 4,901,901 0 4,927,101 4,927,101 5.0%

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Page 1 of 6 – SEC Filing

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Exact Sciences Corporation

(Name of Issuer)

Common stock, par value $0.01

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

30063P105

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

July 22, 2016

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of
this Statement)

Check the following box to designate the rule pursuant to which
the Schedule is filed:

¨ Rule 13d-1(b)
x Rule 13d-1(c)
¨ Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a
reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment
containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”)
or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).

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Page 2 of 6 – SEC Filing

CUSIP No. 30063P105

1.

Names of Reporting Persons

I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

13-3695715

2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) [     ]

(b)

[     ]
3.

SEC Use Only

4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

-0-

6.

Shared Voting Power

4,901,901

7.

Sole Dispositive Power

-0-

8.

Shared Dispositive Power

4,927,101

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

4,927,101

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain
Shares (See Instructions) [     ]

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.0%

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA, PN

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Page 3 of 6 – SEC Filing

CUSIP No. 30063P105

1.

Names of Reporting Persons

I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

David E. Shaw

2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) [     ]

(b)

[     ]
3.

SEC Use Only

4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization

United States

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

-0-

6.

Shared Voting Power

4,901,901

7.

Sole Dispositive Power

-0-

8.

Shared Dispositive Power

4,927,101

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

4,927,101

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain
Shares (See Instructions) [     ]

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.0%

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

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Page 4 of 6 – SEC Filing

Item 1.
(a) Name of Issuer
Exact Sciences Corporation

 

(b)

 

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

441 Charmany Drive

Madison, WI 53719

Item 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

David E. Shaw

(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence

The business address for each reporting person is:

1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10036

 

(c)

 

Citizenship

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. is a limited partnership organized
under the laws of the state of Delaware.

David E. Shaw is a citizen of the United States of America.

 

(d)

 

Title of Class of Securities

Common stock, par value $0.01

 

(e)

 

CUSIP Number

30063P105

 

Item 3.

 

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b)
or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

Not Applicable

Item 4.

Ownership

As of July 22, 2016:

(a) Amount beneficially owned:

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:

4,927,101 shares

This is composed of (i) 2,957,036 shares in the name
of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 1,658,971 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios,
L.L.C., (iii) 161 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iv) 310,933 shares under the management
of D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C.

David E. Shaw:

4,927,101 shares

This is composed of (i) 2,957,036 shares in the name
of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 1,658,971 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., (iii) 161
shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iv) 310,933 shares under the management of D. E. Shaw Investment
Management, L.L.C.

(b) Percent of class:
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 5.0%
David E. Shaw: 5.0%

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Page 5 of 6 – SEC Filing

(c) Number of shares to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: -0- shares
David E. Shaw: -0- shares
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 4,901,901 shares
David E. Shaw: 4,901,901 shares
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: -0- shares
David E. Shaw: -0- shares
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition
of:
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 4,927,101 shares
David E. Shaw: 4,927,101 shares

David E. Shaw does not own any shares directly. By virtue of
David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc., which is the general partner of
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., which in turn is the manager and investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., the investment
adviser of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and the managing member of (i) D. E. Shaw Investment Management, L.L.C., and (ii)
D. E. Shaw Adviser, L.L.C., which in turn is the investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., and by virtue of
David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc., which is the managing member
of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C. and the managing
member of D. E. Shaw Manager, L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., David E. Shaw may
be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 4,901,901 shares, and the shared power to dispose or direct the
disposition of 4,927,101 shares, the 4,927,101 shares as described above constituting 5.0% of the outstanding shares and, therefore,
David E. Shaw may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. David E. Shaw disclaims beneficial ownership of
such 4,927,101 shares.

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not Applicable

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not Applicable

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

Not Applicable

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable

Item 10. Certification

By signing below, each of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
and David E. Shaw certify that, to the best of such reporting person’s knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above
were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes
or effect.

 

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Page 6 of 6 – SEC Filing

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge
and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. A Power of
Attorney, dated December 16, 2014, granted by David E. Shaw in favor of Nathan Thomas, is attached hereto.

Dated: August 1, 2016

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
By: /s/ Nathan Thomas
Nathan Thomas
Chief Compliance Officer
David E. Shaw
By: /s/ Nathan Thomas
Nathan Thomas
Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw

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