BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX - Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 15,720,000 shares, a decrease of 9.1% from the December 31st total of 17,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,050,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.7 days.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 7.4 %

Shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals stock traded up $0.60 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $8.69. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,580,275 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,458,723. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.22 and a beta of 1.75. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $7.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $7.70. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has a 1-year low of $4.03 and a 1-year high of $9.00.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.07) earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of ($0.07). The company had revenue of $117.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.99 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.19) earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 35.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that BioCryst Pharmaceuticals will post -0.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $18.00 price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $15.50.

Institutional Trading of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCRX. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter worth $46,000. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the fourth quarter worth about $48,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 21.5% in the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 7,483 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 1,322 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV raised its holdings in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 80.1% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,198 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $77,000 after purchasing an additional 4,537 shares during the period. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in the third quarter valued at approximately $82,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.88% of the company's stock.

About BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

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.