Precision BioSciences, Inc. (DTIL) - What Are Brokerages Thinking About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is moderately positive: Four of five covering firms rate DTIL a buy, while one rates it a sell; the average 12-month price target is $32.25.
• Precision BioSciences reported a quarterly loss of $0.28 per share, beating estimates of a $0.85 loss, but revenue of $1.25 million came in below expectations of $1.38 million.
• Institutional investors hold about 38% of the stock, with several funds recently adding or initiating positions. Shares opened at $9.87 after a reported 21.6% rise.

Precision BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTIL - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $32.25.

Several brokerages have recently commented on DTIL. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Precision BioSciences in a research note on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen cut Precision BioSciences from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Precision BioSciences in a research report on Monday, August 3rd.

Precision BioSciences Stock Up 21.6%

Shares of NASDAQ DTIL opened at $9.87 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $275.77 million, a P/E ratio of -7.96 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 10.47 and a quick ratio of 12.82. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $6.85 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.58. Precision BioSciences has a 1 year low of $3.53 and a 1 year high of $11.29.

Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ:DTIL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 3rd. The company reported ($0.28) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.85) by $0.57. The firm had revenue of $1.25 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.38 million. Precision BioSciences had a negative return on equity of 56.69% and a negative net margin of 96.73%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Precision BioSciences will post -3.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DTIL. Quantinno Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Precision BioSciences in the 1st quarter worth approximately $104,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Precision BioSciences by 167.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 27,416 shares of the company's stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 17,172 shares during the period. Engineers Gate Manager LP purchased a new position in shares of Precision BioSciences during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $164,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Precision BioSciences during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $467,000. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its holdings in Precision BioSciences by 212.7% in the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 137,106 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,078,000 after purchasing an additional 93,258 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 37.99% of the company's stock.

About Precision BioSciences

Precision BioSciences, Inc is a biotechnology company developing gene-editing medicines using its proprietary ARCUS platform. ARCUS is based on engineered DNA-cutting enzymes designed to make targeted changes to genetic material, with the potential to remove, insert or correct DNA sequences in human cells.

The company's research and development activities have focused primarily on in vivo gene editing, in which therapeutic editing components are delivered directly into the body. Its development programs have included potential treatments for conditions such as chronic hepatitis B infection, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and certain rare genetic disorders.

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