Renaissance Technologies LLC Acquires 177,469 Shares of Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLRX)

Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLRX - Free Report) by 233.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 253,369 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 177,469 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.42% of Pliant Therapeutics worth $2,724,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PLRX. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Pliant Therapeutics by 1.7% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 305,322 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,282,000 after purchasing an additional 5,152 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Pliant Therapeutics by 18.1% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 74,113 shares of the company's stock valued at $797,000 after purchasing an additional 11,351 shares during the last quarter. Rice Hall James & Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pliant Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,372,000. Quest Partners LLC increased its position in Pliant Therapeutics by 75.8% during the 2nd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 32,175 shares of the company's stock worth $346,000 after purchasing an additional 13,877 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam S.C.A. raised its position in Pliant Therapeutics by 52.0% during the 2nd quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 833,216 shares of the company's stock worth $8,957,000 after purchasing an additional 285,216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.30% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PLRX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $38.00 price target on shares of Pliant Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Leerink Partners initiated coverage on shares of Pliant Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, September 9th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $33.00 target price for the company. Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Pliant Therapeutics to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $38.00 price objective on shares of Pliant Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, September 13th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Pliant Therapeutics from $48.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pliant Therapeutics currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $40.57.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Pliant Therapeutics news, insider Eric Lefebvre sold 12,319 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.56, for a total value of $142,407.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 213,052 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,462,881.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Pliant Therapeutics news, insider Eric Lefebvre sold 12,319 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.56, for a total transaction of $142,407.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 213,052 shares in the company, valued at $2,462,881.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Mike Ouimette sold 7,656 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.56, for a total value of $88,503.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 94,044 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,087,148.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 69,596 shares of company stock worth $804,530. Insiders own 6.40% of the company's stock.

Pliant Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ PLRX traded down $0.69 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $10.52. 737,110 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 456,558. The company has a 50-day moving average of $12.73 and a 200-day moving average of $12.83. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. has a 52-week low of $10.29 and a 52-week high of $19.62. The company has a quick ratio of 14.47, a current ratio of 14.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08.

Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PLRX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The company reported ($0.92) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.85) by ($0.07). Research analysts anticipate that Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. will post -3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pliant Therapeutics Profile

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases in the United States. The company's lead candidate is bexotegrast, an oral, small-molecule, dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins, which is in phase 2b trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in phase 2a trial for primary sclerosing cholangitis.