Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) have earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $35.67.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 price objective on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Thursday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Vir Biotechnology from $10.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Leerink Partners raised their price target on Vir Biotechnology from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays upped their price objective on Vir Biotechnology from $26.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Vir Biotechnology from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their target price for the company from $10.00 to $20.00 in a report on Thursday, January 9th.

Insider Transactions at Vir Biotechnology

In related news, EVP Verneuil Vanina De sold 7,373 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.14, for a total transaction of $67,389.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 79,460 shares in the company, valued at $726,264.40. The trade was a 8.49 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director George A. Scangos sold 10,964 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.81, for a total value of $107,556.84. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 708,295 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,948,373.95. The trade was a 1.52 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 30,859 shares of company stock worth $326,458. 15.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vir Biotechnology

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VIR. Baker BROS. Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of Vir Biotechnology during the fourth quarter worth approximately $7,961,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Vir Biotechnology during the 4th quarter worth $6,742,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its holdings in Vir Biotechnology by 16,169.5% during the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 848,454 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,228,000 after purchasing an additional 843,239 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Vir Biotechnology by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,915,465 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,059,000 after purchasing an additional 703,360 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 55.3% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,715,083 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,589,000 after buying an additional 610,367 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.32% of the company’s stock.

Vir Biotechnology Trading Down 5.6 %

Shares of VIR opened at $7.92 on Tuesday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $9.47 and its 200 day moving average is $8.49. Vir Biotechnology has a 12-month low of $6.56 and a 12-month high of $14.45. The company has a market capitalization of $1.09 billion, a PE ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 0.64.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.76) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.85) by $0.09. Vir Biotechnology had a negative net margin of 678.40% and a negative return on equity of 36.71%. The firm had revenue of $12.37 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.14 million. Equities research analysts predict that Vir Biotechnology will post -3.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Vir Biotechnology Company Profile

Vir Biotechnology, Inc, an immunology company, develops therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Its clinical development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting hepatitis delta virus (HDV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The company’s preclinical candidates include those targeting influenza A and B, coronavirus disease 2019, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (MPV), and human papillomavirus (HPV).