Rafferty Asset Management LLC Decreases Holdings in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX)

Rafferty Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) by 36.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 234,836 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 136,198 shares during the quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC’s holdings in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals were worth $1,766,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in BCRX. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth about $48,000. KBC Group NV raised its position in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 80.1% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,198 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $77,000 after purchasing an additional 4,537 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth about $80,000. Finally, Syon Capital LLC purchased a new stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth about $99,000. 85.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:BCRX opened at $10.33 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $2.16 billion, a PE ratio of -16.93 and a beta of 1.08. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $8.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.99. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a one year low of $5.92 and a one year high of $11.11.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 24th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $131.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $126.64 million. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 40.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.28 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post -0.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on BCRX shares. Wedbush started coverage on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $15.00 price objective on the stock. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $13.00 price objective (up from $11.00) on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $16.56.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Profile

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biotechnology company, develops oral small-molecule and protein therapeutics to treat rare diseases. The company markets peramivir injection, an intravenous neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza under the RAPIVAB, RAPIACTA, and PERAMIFLU names; and ORLADEYO, an oral serine protease inhibitor to treat hereditary angioedema.