Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AUPH) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Strong-Buy Rating

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AUPH) (TSE:AUP) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report issued on Thursday.

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

AUPH stock traded down $0.06 during trading on Thursday, reaching $8.46. 846,003 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,329,009. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals has a twelve month low of $4.71 and a twelve month high of $10.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 5.60 and a quick ratio of 5.11. The company has a market capitalization of $1.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -56.40 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a 50-day moving average of $8.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.02.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Joseph M. Miller sold 61,859 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.00, for a total value of $494,872.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 633,515 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,068,120. This represents a 8.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Greg Keenan sold 8,305 shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.23, for a total transaction of $68,350.15. Following the sale, the insider now owns 153,484 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,263,173.32. This represents a 5.13 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 343,898 shares of company stock worth $2,753,094. Insiders own 4.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AUPH. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Aurinia Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new position in shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals by 368.5% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,350 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 2,635 shares during the period. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in Aurinia Pharmaceuticals in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Natixis acquired a new stake in Aurinia Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $49,000. 36.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Aurinia Pharmaceuticals

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing and commercializing therapies to treat various diseases with unmet medical need in the United States. It offers LUPKYNIS for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis. It has a collaboration and license agreement with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd.