Atyr PHARMA INC (NASDAQ:ATYR) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Atyr PHARMA INC (NASDAQ:ATYR - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,360,000 shares, a growth of 98.3% from the September 15th total of 685,800 shares. Currently, 1.8% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 443,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.1 days.

Insider Transactions at Atyr PHARMA

In related news, Director Paul Schimmel purchased 52,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 24th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.93 per share, with a total value of $100,939.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 413,023 shares in the company, valued at $797,134.39. The trade was a 0.00 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 3.70% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on ATYR shares. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Atyr PHARMA in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on shares of Atyr PHARMA in a research report on Friday, October 4th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $17.00 price target for the company. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Atyr PHARMA in a report on Thursday, September 5th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $9.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $16.00 target price on shares of Atyr PHARMA in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th.

Atyr PHARMA Stock Up 5.2 %

ATYR traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $2.23. The company had a trading volume of 781,057 shares, compared to its average volume of 474,481. Atyr PHARMA has a 1 year low of $1.08 and a 1 year high of $2.50. The company has a current ratio of 7.63, a quick ratio of 7.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $169.03 million, a P/E ratio of -2.49 and a beta of 1.21. The company's 50-day moving average price is $1.85.

Atyr PHARMA (NASDAQ:ATYR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 13th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.24) by $0.01. On average, equities research analysts predict that Atyr PHARMA will post -0.91 EPS for the current year.

About Atyr PHARMA

aTyr Pharma, Inc, a biotherapeutics company, engages in the discovery and development of medicines based on novel immunological pathways in the United States. Its lead therapeutic candidate is efzofitimod, a selective modulator of NRP2 that is in Phase III clinical trial for pulmonary sarcoidosis; and in Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for treatment of other interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), such as chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and connective tissue disease related ILD.