BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX) Trading 3.7% Higher - Should You Buy?

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX - Get Free Report) shares were up 3.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $7.95 and last traded at $7.98. Approximately 1,042,637 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 62% from the average daily volume of 2,741,884 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.69.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BCRX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $18.00 target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday, January 31st. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $11.00 target price (up previously from $10.00) on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Wedbush started coverage on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $15.00 price target on the stock. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and set a $30.00 target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $15.57.

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BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average of $8.12 and a 200-day moving average of $7.82. The stock has a market cap of $1.64 billion, a PE ratio of -12.89 and a beta of 1.85.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 24th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.07) by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $131.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $126.64 million. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals's quarterly revenue was up 40.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.28 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post -0.36 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BCRX. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,890,422 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $164,616,000 after acquiring an additional 1,583,826 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 2.7% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,837,985 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $36,776,000 after purchasing an additional 127,708 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 16.9% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 3,338,062 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $25,369,000 after purchasing an additional 481,359 shares during the last quarter. Caligan Partners LP raised its holdings in BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 16.0% in the fourth quarter. Caligan Partners LP now owns 2,995,932 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $22,529,000 after purchasing an additional 412,347 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 14.6% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 2,499,812 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $18,799,000 after buying an additional 318,800 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.