On November 10, 2023, Jones Trading commenced coverage of Septerna (NASDAQ: SEPN) with a positive outlook, issuing a research report that sets a “buy” rating and a target price of $43.00 per share. This target implies a potential upside of 45.91% from Septerna’s previous closing price, indicating strong confidence in the stock’s future performance.
Other equity research analysts have recently expressed mixed sentiments regarding Septerna’s stock. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on November 7, 2023, assigning it a “strong-buy” rating with a price target of $38.00. Additionally, Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a “buy” to a “strong-buy” rating on November 8, 2023. In contrast, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on October 8, 2023.
Analyst Ratings and Market Consensus
Analysts have varied opinions on Septerna, with one analyst giving it a “strong buy” rating, five assigning a “buy” rating, and one issuing a “sell” rating. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently holds a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $33.00.
In the most recent earnings report released on November 10, 2023, Septerna reported an earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.09) for the quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate of $0.19 by ($0.28). The company generated revenue of $21.50 million, which did not meet analyst projections of $24.50 million. The report revealed a negative net margin of 266.77% and a negative return on equity of 17.98%.
Insider Activity and Institutional Investments
In related news, insider trading activity showed that Daniel D. Long, Senior Vice President, sold 3,501 shares of Septerna on November 10, 2023, at an average price of $18.06, totaling approximately $63,228.06. Following this transaction, Long retains 92,911 shares of the company, valued at about $1,677,972.66, marking a 3.63% decrease in his holdings. Currently, corporate insiders hold 4.30% of the stock.
Institutional investors have also been active, with BVF Inc. IL increasing its stake in Septerna by 79.3% during the first quarter, now owning 4,396,124 shares valued at approximately $25.45 million. Additionally, Checkpoint Capital L.P. and ADAR1 Capital Management LLC have both established new positions in the company, investing roughly $4.78 million and $4.17 million respectively. Other notable institutional purchases include Perceptive Advisors LLC and VR Adviser LLC, with investments around $5.72 million and $5.71 million respectively.
About Septerna
Septerna is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on innovating drug discovery for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) through its proprietary Native Complex Platform™. The company aims to maximize the potential of GPCR therapies, developing a pipeline of product candidates targeting endocrinology, immunology, inflammation, and metabolic diseases. GPCRs are a vital family of cell membrane receptors involved in numerous physiological processes across various organ systems in the body.
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