CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) Stock Review: Recent Trading Trends

On Monday, the stock price of CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) fell by 0.5% during trading sessions. The shares hit a low of $43.25 before closing at $43.70. In total, around 525,122 shares were traded, marking a significant drop of 77% compared to the average trading volume of 2,299,289 shares. The previous closing price was $43.92.

Analyst Insights on CRISPR Therapeutics

Several financial institutions have shared their perspectives regarding CRISPR Therapeutics. Cantor Fitzgerald maintained a "neutral" rating for the stock in their recent note. Chardan Capital revised down their target price for CRISPR from $94.00 to $84.00 while still assigning a "buy" rating. In contrast, Evercore ISI upgraded CRISPR to an "outperform" rating and set a new target price of $99.00, up from $60.00. HC Wainwright also reiterated their "buy" stance with a price target of $65.00. Moreover, Bank of America adjusted their target price from $98.00 to $85.00 and maintained a "buy" rating. Currently, two analysts give a sell rating, nine suggest holding, and twelve recommend buying the stock. As per MarketBeat.com data, the average rating stands at "Hold" with a consensus target price of $74.40.

Market Performance and Financial Indicators

The market capitalization of CRISPR Therapeutics is approximately $3.76 billion, with a PE ratio of -10.03 and a beta of 1.67. The company's stock has a 50-day moving average price of $42.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.86. In their latest quarterly earnings report released on February 11, the company reported earnings per share of ($0.44), which was better than analysts' expectations of ($1.15) by $0.71. However, CRISPR Therapeutics continues to struggle with negative returns on equity at -18.46% and a very concerning net margin of -981.54%. Analysts expect the company to post earnings per share of -$5.16 in the current year.

Recent Insider Transactions

In related news, CEO Samarth Kulkarni sold 18,360 shares of the company on February 19 at an average price of $55.20, totaling around $1,013,472. Following this transaction, he currently owns 171,613 shares valued at about $9.47 million, indicating a 9.66% decrease in his shareholding. Conversely, Director John Greene purchased 7,000 shares on February 26 for about $313,950, increasing his ownership. Insiders control approximately 4.10% of CRISPR Therapeutics stock.

Institutional Investment Trends

Recent activities from institutional investors show a mix of increasing and adjusting stakes in CRISPR Therapeutics. For instance, Boston Family Office LLC raised its holdings by 2.2% during Q3, now totaling 9,763 shares valued at $459,000. Other firms like Bedell Frazier Investment Counselling LLC and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased their stakes by 0.8% and 1.9% respectively. Overall, hedge funds and institutional investors own around 69.20% of the company’s stock.

Overview of CRISPR Therapeutics

CRISPR Therapeutics is at the forefront of gene editing, focused on developing transformative gene-based treatments for serious medical conditions using their proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This advanced gene-editing technology allows for precise modifications to DNA and has led to various therapeutic programs addressing diseases, including hemoglobinopathies, oncology, regenerative medicine, and rare diseases.

Final Thoughts

Investors should closely monitor the stock's performance, especially as it navigates recent sell-offs and fluctuating insider activities. Given the insights from analysts and institutional trends, the question remains whether now is the right time to invest or sell.

CRISPR, Therapeutics, Stocks