Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) was up 15.1% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $30.50 and last traded at $28.89. Approximately 1,846,056 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 231% from the average daily volume of 557,851 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.10.
AKRO has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Akero Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 31st. HC Wainwright increased their price objective on shares of Akero Therapeutics from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 13th. BidaskClub downgraded shares of Akero Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 31st. Finally, ValuEngine raised shares of Akero Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Akero Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $54.71.
The company’s fifty day moving average is $27.30 and its 200 day moving average is $30.81. The firm has a market cap of $1.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.31 and a beta of 0.58.
Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 17th. The company reported ($0.63) EPS for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of ($0.59) by ($0.04). As a group, equities analysts expect that Akero Therapeutics, Inc. will post -2.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
In other Akero Therapeutics news, COO Jonathan Young sold 3,060 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.29, for a total value of $77,387.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 181,885 shares in the company, valued at $4,599,871.65. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 7.09% of the company’s stock.
Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth about $44,000. Strs Ohio lifted its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 2,600 shares of the company’s stock worth $80,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 48.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 40,688 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,014,000 after buying an additional 13,232 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.49% of the company’s stock.
About Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO)
Akero Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of treatments for serious metabolic diseases. Its lead product candidate is AKR-001, which is in Phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis disease.The company was formerly known as Pippin Pharmaceuticals, Inc and changed its name to Akero Therapeutics, Inc in May 2018.
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