BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 15,720,000 shares, a decline of 9.1% from the December 31st total of 17,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,050,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.7 days.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BCRX opened at $7.90 on Monday. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals has a 52-week low of $4.03 and a 52-week high of $8.88. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $7.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.69.

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:BCRX) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.07) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $117.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $113.99 million. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 35.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.19) EPS. On average, analysts predict that BioCryst Pharmaceuticals will post -0.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BCRX shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $7.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and set a $18.00 target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals in a report on Friday. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $15.50.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BCRX. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at $48,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 21.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 7,483 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 1,322 shares during the period. KBC Group NV lifted its position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals by 80.1% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,198 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 4,537 shares during the period. Finally, Quantinno Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at $82,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.