Short Interest in CEL-SCI Co. (NYSE:CVM) Rises By 295.5%

Key Points

• CEL-SCI Co. experienced a dramatic 295.5% increase in short interest in July, with 1,540,000 shares short sold, representing about 22.9% of the company's shares.
• CEO Geert R. Kersten bought 29,197 shares at an average price of $6.85, increasing his position by 66.91% and bringing his total ownership to 72,835 shares.
• Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC raised its stake in CEL-SCI by 40.1%, owning a total of 191,661 shares, demonstrating increased institutional interest in the company.

CEL-SCI Co. (NYSE:CVM - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,540,000 shares, anincreaseof295.5% from the June 30th total of 389,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 716,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately22.9% of the shares of the company are short sold. Approximately22.9% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 716,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.1 days.

CEL-SCI Price Performance

NYSE CVM traded down $0.39 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $8.86. 108,487 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 378,380. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.07. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $3.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.10. The company has a market cap of $47.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -18.60 and a beta of 0.51. CEL-SCI has a 1-year low of $1.98 and a 1-year high of $39.30.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Geert R. Kersten purchased 29,197 shares of CEL-SCI stock in a transaction on Friday, July 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $6.85 per share, with a total value of $199,999.45. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 72,835 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,919.75. This trade represents a 66.91% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 9.93% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CEL-SCI

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in CEL-SCI stock. MAI Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of CEL-SCI Co. (NYSE:CVM - Free Report) by 229.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 526,480 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 366,880 shares during the period. MAI Capital Management owned 0.63% of CEL-SCI worth $121,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 12.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen started coverage on shares of CEL-SCI in a research note on Friday, May 16th. They issued a "sell" rating on the stock.

CEL-SCI Company Profile

CEL-SCI Corporation, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the research and development of immune system therapy for the treatment of cancer and other diseases in the United States. The company's lead immunotherapy is Multikine, which has completed Phase 3 clinical trials for the potential treatment of certain head and neck cancers.