Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the eight analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $46.83.

AKRO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of Akero Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, November 18th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $65.00 price objective on the stock. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $50.00 price target on shares of Akero Therapeutics in a report on Monday, November 18th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, COO Jonathan Young sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.18, for a total transaction of $281,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 226,286 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,376,739.48. This trade represents a 4.23 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Catriona Yale sold 9,061 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.73, for a total transaction of $251,261.53. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 74,158 shares in the company, valued at $2,056,401.34. The trade was a 10.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 396,802 shares of company stock valued at $12,396,400 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 7.94% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Akero Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Simplify Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 15.6% during the third quarter. Simplify Asset Management Inc. now owns 283,766 shares of the company's stock worth $8,141,000 after purchasing an additional 38,279 shares during the period. Perceptive Advisors LLC increased its stake in Akero Therapeutics by 8.1% in the 2nd quarter. Perceptive Advisors LLC now owns 1,499,897 shares of the company's stock worth $35,188,000 after purchasing an additional 112,426 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in Akero Therapeutics by 732.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 30,337 shares of the company's stock worth $870,000 after buying an additional 26,691 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Akero Therapeutics by 32.8% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 251,234 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,894,000 after buying an additional 61,988 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 127.9% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 127,668 shares of the company's stock worth $3,662,000 after buying an additional 71,652 shares during the period.

Akero Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AKRO traded up $0.33 during trading on Thursday, hitting $28.89. 336,403 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 840,855. The company has a quick ratio of 17.25, a current ratio of 17.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The business's fifty day moving average is $30.74 and its 200-day moving average is $27.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.70 and a beta of -0.23. Akero Therapeutics has a one year low of $15.32 and a one year high of $37.00.

Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 8th. The company reported ($1.05) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.90) by ($0.15). As a group, equities analysts predict that Akero Therapeutics will post -3.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Akero Therapeutics

Akero Therapeutics, Inc, together with its subsidiary, engages in the development of treatments for patients with serious metabolic diseases in the United States. The company's lead product candidate is efruxifermin (EFX), which is in Phase 3 clinical trials that protects against cellular stress and regulates the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins throughout the body for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients.