CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) Stock Rated "Moderate Buy" by Sell-Side Brokerages

Key Points

• CRISPR Therapeutics has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from 18 analysts, with nine buys, two strong buys, six holds and one sell. The average 12-month price target is $67.94, above the reported share price of $50.44.
• The company reported a quarterly loss of $0.94 per share on $10.18 million in revenue, while analysts expect a full-year loss of $4.47 per share. Its stock has traded between $44.12 and $78.38 over the past year.
• Insiders sold 26,069 shares worth approximately $1.53 million during the quarter, while institutional investors own 69.20% of the company. CRISPR’s lead therapy, CASGEVY, is approved in several markets for certain sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia patients.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the eighteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a hold recommendation, nine have assigned a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $67.94.

Several research firms have weighed in on CRSP. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $82.00 price target on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, August 31st. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, August 31st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, July 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, William Blair raised CRISPR Therapeutics to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd.

CRISPR Therapeutics Price Performance

CRISPR Therapeutics stock opened at $50.44 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.60 and a beta of 1.76. CRISPR Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $44.12 and a 52-week high of $78.38. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $55.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $53.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 17.85 and a current ratio of 17.85.

CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, June 30th. The company reported ($0.94) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $10.18 million during the quarter. CRISPR Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 3,368.72% and a negative return on equity of 24.39%. On average, equities analysts predict that CRISPR Therapeutics will post -4.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other CRISPR Therapeutics news, General Counsel James Kasinger sold 10,400 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.24, for a total transaction of $626,496.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 94,784 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,709,788.16. The trade was a 9.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Ali Behbahani sold 13,679 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.09, for a total transaction of $780,934.11. Following the transaction, the director owned 16,637 shares in the company, valued at approximately $949,806.33. The trade was a 45.12% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 26,069 shares of company stock worth $1,526,910. 5.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 175.1% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 465 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in CRISPR Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $56,000. Strategic Advocates LLC boosted its stake in CRISPR Therapeutics by 127.6% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Advocates LLC now owns 1,195 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 670 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in CRISPR Therapeutics by 92.0% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,246 shares of the company's stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 597 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hollencrest Capital Management increased its holdings in CRISPR Therapeutics by 249.9% during the 1st quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 1,312 shares of the company's stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 937 shares in the last quarter. 69.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About CRISPR Therapeutics

CRISPR Therapeutics AG NASDAQ: CRSP is a biotechnology company focused on developing gene-editing medicines based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The company aims to treat serious diseases by precisely modifying genetic material in patients' cells, with research programs spanning hematology, oncology, autoimmune diseases, and regenerative medicine.

Its lead product, CASGEVY (exagamglogene autotemcel), is a CRISPR/Cas9-based cell therapy developed with Vertex Pharmaceuticals. CASGEVY is approved in multiple markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, for certain patients with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.

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