Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (VIR) - What Are Investment Firms Thinking About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is moderately positive: Vir Biotechnology has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating from nine analysts, with six buys, one strong buy and two sells. The average 12-month price target is $21.86.
• Institutional ownership is substantial: Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.32% of VIR, while several funds recently increased their positions.
• Recent results exceeded expectations: Vir reported quarterly EPS of $0.47 versus the $0.33 consensus estimate and revenue of $238.95 million, up sharply year over year, though analysts expect a full-year loss of $1.84 per share.

Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the nine research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $21.86.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings restated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed a "strong-buy" rating on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Monday, September 28th. Morgan Stanley set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on shares of Vir Biotechnology from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Vir Biotechnology from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th.

Institutional Trading of Vir Biotechnology

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in VIR. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 19.8% during the first quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 16,163 shares of the company's stock worth $145,000 after acquiring an additional 2,668 shares during the period. Fiduciary Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in Vir Biotechnology in the second quarter valued at about $29,000. Diversified Trust Co lifted its position in Vir Biotechnology by 13.6% in the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 32,038 shares of the company's stock valued at $287,000 after purchasing an additional 3,836 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its position in Vir Biotechnology by 18.9% in the first quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 25,768 shares of the company's stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 4,100 shares during the period. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its holdings in Vir Biotechnology by 19.2% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 27,914 shares of the company's stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 4,493 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.32% of the company's stock.

Vir Biotechnology Stock Performance

Shares of VIR opened at $10.57 on Friday. Vir Biotechnology has a fifty-two week low of $4.82 and a fifty-two week high of $12.00. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.78 and a 200-day simple moving average of $9.91. The company has a market capitalization of $1.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.68 and a beta of 1.59.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $0.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.33 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $238.95 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $135.88 million. The business's revenue was up 19582.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.80) EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Vir Biotechnology will post -1.84 EPS for the current year.

About Vir Biotechnology

Vir Biotechnology, Inc is a clinical-stage immunology company focused on developing medicines to prevent and treat serious infectious diseases and other immune-related conditions. The company uses antibody engineering, immunologic approaches and other technologies to identify and advance therapies designed to harness or modify the immune system.

Vir's research and development programs have included treatments and vaccines for hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza and other infectious diseases.

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