bluebird bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Analysts

bluebird bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLUE - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of "Hold" from the nine analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $49.14.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of bluebird bio in a report on Friday, December 20th. They issued a "sell" rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded bluebird bio from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on bluebird bio from $60.00 to $40.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Bank of America cut bluebird bio from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $60.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $80.00 target price on shares of bluebird bio in a research report on Friday, November 15th.

bluebird bio Stock Performance

BLUE stock remained flat at $8.46 during mid-day trading on Friday. The company's stock had a trading volume of 166,366 shares, compared to its average volume of 259,694. The company has a market capitalization of $82.25 million, a P/E ratio of -4.52 and a beta of 0.68. bluebird bio has a 1-year low of $5.80 and a 1-year high of $38.40. The business's 50 day moving average price is $8.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.51.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Verition Fund Management LLC bought a new position in bluebird bio in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in bluebird bio by 152.4% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 122,855 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 74,185 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in bluebird bio by 48.2% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 237,648 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $123,000 after buying an additional 77,293 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in bluebird bio by 273.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 252,062 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $130,000 after buying an additional 184,605 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in bluebird bio by 25.4% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 292,436 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $288,000 after acquiring an additional 59,219 shares during the period. 87.43% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

bluebird bio Company Profile

bluebird bio, Inc, a biotechnology company, researches, develops, and commercializes gene therapies for severe genetic diseases. Its product candidates for severe genetic diseases include ZYNTEGLO (betibeglogene autotemcel) for the treatment of transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia; lovotibeglogene autotemcel for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD); and SKYSONA (elivaldogene autotemcel) to treat cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.