Equillium, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQ) Given Average Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Equillium has a consensus analyst recommendation of Hold from five analysts (1 sell, 1 hold, 3 buy) with an average 1‑year price target of $9.00.
• Shares recently traded at $2.04 (up 1.3%), with a 52‑week range of $0.27–$2.70 and a market cap of about $128.7 million.
• Insiders have been net sellers — the COO sold 185,937 shares on Feb. 19 and insiders sold 494,001 shares over the last 90 days, though insiders still own 31.6% of the company.

Equillium, Inc. (NASDAQ:EQ - Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the five analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $9.00.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on EQ. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on shares of Equillium in a research note on Tuesday. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $10.00 price target on the stock. Roth Mkm began coverage on shares of Equillium in a research note on Friday, March 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $12.00 price target on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Equillium to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Equillium in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $5.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Equillium in a research note on Friday, March 27th.

Equillium Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NASDAQ:EQ traded up $0.03 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $2.04. 69,918 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 520,646. Equillium has a fifty-two week low of $0.27 and a fifty-two week high of $2.70. The firm has a market cap of $128.74 million, a PE ratio of -4.08 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $1.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.44.

Equillium (NASDAQ:EQ - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 25th. The company reported ($0.04) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.03. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Equillium will post 0.14 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Equillium news, COO Christine Zedelmayer sold 185,937 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.76, for a total value of $327,249.12. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 191,444 shares of the company's stock, valued at $336,941.44. This trade represents a 49.27% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 494,001 shares of company stock valued at $998,895. Company insiders own 31.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its stake in Equillium by 133.4% in the 3rd quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 23,779 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 13,591 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Equillium during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Persistent Asset Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Equillium during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $99,000. Royal Bank of Canada acquired a new stake in shares of Equillium during the 4th quarter worth approximately $124,000. Finally, Boothbay Fund Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Equillium during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $174,000. 27.05% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Equillium Company Profile

Equillium, Inc NASDAQ: EQ is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel immunotherapies to treat severe autoimmune diseases and prevent organ transplant rejection. The company's lead therapeutic candidate, EQ001 (itolizumab), is a humanized monoclonal antibody that modulates T-cell activation by targeting the CD6 receptor. Equillium's pipeline also includes additional biologic candidates aimed at addressing indications such as acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and lupus nephritis.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in La Jolla, California, Equillium in-licensed itolizumab from Biocon Limited, leveraging the antibody's established safety profile in earlier clinical studies.

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