Benitec Biopharma Limited (BNTC) - What Are Brokerages Saying About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analysts have a “Moderate Buy” consensus on Benitec Biopharma: seven of 10 rate it a buy, two a hold and one a sell. Their average 12-month price target is $22.
• Recent analyst calls were mixed: HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy and RBC upgraded the stock to outperform, while Weiss Ratings and Wall Street Zen issued sell ratings. Raymond James initiated coverage with an outperform rating and a $14 target.
• Benitec reported quarterly EPS of -$0.26, matching estimates; analysts expect full-year EPS of -$1.35. Institutional investors own 52.19% of shares.

Shares of Benitec Biopharma Limited (NASDAQ:BNTC - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $22.00.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on BNTC shares. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Benitec Biopharma in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating on shares of Benitec Biopharma in a report on Monday. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Benitec Biopharma to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 15th. Raymond James Financial started coverage on shares of Benitec Biopharma in a research note on Friday, October 23rd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $14.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Benitec Biopharma from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, September 19th.

Benitec Biopharma Stock Up 10.5%

Shares of Benitec Biopharma stock opened at $9.28 on Thursday. Benitec Biopharma has a fifty-two week low of $7.89 and a fifty-two week high of $15.86. The firm has a market cap of $323.78 million, a PE ratio of -9.47 and a beta of 0.26. The business's fifty day moving average is $10.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.49.

Benitec Biopharma (NASDAQ:BNTC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, September 14th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.26) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of ($0.26). Equities research analysts anticipate that Benitec Biopharma will post -1.35 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Benitec Biopharma

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. AWM Investment Company Inc. purchased a new position in Benitec Biopharma during the second quarter worth approximately $2,515,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Benitec Biopharma in the 2nd quarter valued at $804,000. ADAR1 Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Benitec Biopharma during the 1st quarter valued at $186,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of Benitec Biopharma by 43.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 17,376 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $185,000 after buying an additional 5,251 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Benitec Biopharma by 18.7% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,961 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $107,000 after buying an additional 1,256 shares during the period. 52.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Benitec Biopharma

Benitec Biopharma Inc NASDAQ: BNTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing genetic medicines based on its proprietary DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) technology. The platform is designed to enable cells to produce small hairpin RNA molecules that can selectively reduce the expression of disease-causing genes, potentially providing longer-lasting gene silencing than conventional RNA-based approaches.

The company's lead program is BB-301, an investigational gene therapy being developed for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy type 1 (OPMD1), a rare inherited disorder that affects muscles involved in swallowing and movement.

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