Benitec Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ:BNTC) Short Interest Update

Benitec Biopharma Inc. (NASDAQ:BNTC - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 439,200 shares, a growth of 24.0% from the April 30th total of 354,100 shares. Currently, 1.9% of the company's stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 46,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 9.4 days.

Insider Buying and Selling at Benitec Biopharma

In related news, Director Suvretta Capital Management, L acquired 900,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 26th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $13.00 per share, with a total value of $11,700,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 8,793,245 shares of the company's stock, valued at $114,312,185. This represents a 11.40% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BNTC. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Benitec Biopharma in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $597,000. Infinitum Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Benitec Biopharma by 435.7% during the 1st quarter. Infinitum Asset Management LLC now owns 1,125,000 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $14,636,000 after purchasing an additional 915,000 shares in the last quarter. AWM Investment Company Inc. grew its stake in shares of Benitec Biopharma by 35.2% during the 1st quarter. AWM Investment Company Inc. now owns 137,977 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $1,795,000 after purchasing an additional 35,950 shares during the period. MYDA Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Benitec Biopharma by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. MYDA Advisors LLC now owns 52,000 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $677,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Informed Momentum Co LLC purchased a new stake in Benitec Biopharma during the first quarter worth about $512,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.19% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $20.00 target price on shares of Benitec Biopharma in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $28.00 price target on shares of Benitec Biopharma in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $24.71.

Benitec Biopharma Stock Down 0.8%

NASDAQ BNTC traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $15.48. 40,512 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 41,126. The company has a 50 day moving average of $13.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.35. The firm has a market cap of $396.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.25 and a beta of 0.34. Benitec Biopharma has a 52-week low of $5.74 and a 52-week high of $16.90.

Benitec Biopharma (NASDAQ:BNTC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 14th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.24) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.36) by $0.12. On average, equities research analysts predict that Benitec Biopharma will post -1.48 EPS for the current year.

Benitec Biopharma Company Profile

Benitec Biopharma Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, focuses on the development of novel genetic medicines. The company develops DNA-directed RNA interference-based therapeutics for chronic and life-threatening human conditions. It is developing BB-301, an adeno-associated virus based gene therapy agent for treating oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.