105,000 Shares in Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTGX) Purchased by Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc.

Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTGX - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 105,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,053,000. Protagonist Therapeutics accounts for approximately 1.2% of Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. owned about 0.18% of Protagonist Therapeutics at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Protagonist Therapeutics by 10.4% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,133 shares of the company's stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Protagonist Therapeutics by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 28,800 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,112,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Protagonist Therapeutics by 21.6% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 2,130 shares of the company's stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 379 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its holdings in shares of Protagonist Therapeutics by 54.4% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,093 shares of the company's stock worth $81,000 after purchasing an additional 737 shares during the period. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Protagonist Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. 98.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Protagonist Therapeutics Stock Performance

PTGX stock traded up $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $38.75. 659,597 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 555,959. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $38.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.83. The stock has a market cap of $2.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.57 and a beta of 2.22. Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.22 and a fifty-two week high of $48.89.

Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTGX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 21st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by $2.07. Protagonist Therapeutics had a return on equity of 34.68% and a net margin of 52.76%. Research analysts anticipate that Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. will post 2.43 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, December 6th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $47.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered shares of Protagonist Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on Protagonist Therapeutics in a report on Friday, December 6th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. Wedbush restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $58.00 price target on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $50.00 price objective on shares of Protagonist Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $56.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Arturo Md Molina sold 26,000 shares of Protagonist Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.70, for a total transaction of $1,162,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 46,444 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,076,046.80. This trade represents a 35.89 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Dinesh V. Ph D. Patel sold 5,359 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.18, for a total transaction of $204,606.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 540,260 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,627,126.80. This trade represents a 0.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 213,316 shares of company stock worth $9,816,345. Insiders own 5.40% of the company's stock.

Protagonist Therapeutics Profile

Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops peptide-based drugs for hematology and blood disorders, and inflammatory and immunomodulatory diseases. It is developing Rusfertide (PTG-300), an injectable hepcidin mimetic that completed phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of polycythemia vera and other blood disorders; and JNJ-2113, an orally delivered investigational drug to block biological pathways that completed phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis; and PN-943, an orally delivered, gut-restricted alpha 4 beta 7 specific integrin antagonist completed a phase 2 clinical trials in patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.