Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Boosts Stake in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RYTM)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH increased its stake in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals by 22.4%, bringing its total holdings to 93,105 shares valued at approximately $4.93 million.
• Rhythm Pharmaceuticals reported a loss of ($0.81) EPS for the last quarter, missing expectations, with revenue rising to $37.72 million, up 25.9% year-over-year.
• Several analysts have set new price targets, with Oppenheimer increasing their target to $110.00 and Morgan Stanley assigning a price objective of $95.00, indicating overall positive sentiment with a consensus rating of “Buy”.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH grew its holdings in shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:RYTM - Free Report) by 22.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 93,105 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,021 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.15% of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals worth $4,932,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in RYTM. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its holdings in shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals by 103.9% during the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,219,554 shares of the company's stock valued at $68,309,000 after purchasing an additional 621,432 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals by 70.4% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 692,803 shares of the company's stock worth $38,783,000 after acquiring an additional 286,188 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $11,512,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals by 224.3% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 264,585 shares of the company's stock worth $14,811,000 after acquiring an additional 182,993 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stempoint Capital LP raised its holdings in Rhythm Pharmaceuticals by 404.1% in the 4th quarter. Stempoint Capital LP now owns 208,016 shares of the company's stock worth $11,645,000 after acquiring an additional 166,748 shares during the last quarter.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Pamela J. Cramer sold 15,572 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.13, for a total transaction of $1,201,068.36. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 19,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,481,590.17. This trade represents a 44.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Alastair Garfield sold 1,319 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.81, for a total transaction of $85,484.39. Following the transaction, the insider owned 3,126 shares in the company, valued at approximately $202,596.06. This represents a 29.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 81,417 shares of company stock valued at $6,352,511. 6.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 1.5%

NASDAQ:RYTM traded up $1.25 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $85.91. 126,634 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 670,641. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.54 and a beta of 2.26. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.61 and a 52 week high of $94.80. The firm's 50 day moving average is $71.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.01.

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:RYTM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported ($0.81) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.69) by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $37.72 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $40.43 million. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 123.26% and a negative return on equity of 739.62%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 25.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($2.35) earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post -4.32 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

RYTM has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals from $78.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Morgan Stanley set a $95.00 price objective on shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals from $76.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Leerink Partners initiated coverage on shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals in a report on Monday, July 7th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $88.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $91.93.

About Rhythm Pharmaceuticals

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the rare neuroendocrine diseases. The company's lead product candidate is IMCIVREE (setmelanotide), a rare melanocortin-4 receptor for the treatment of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1, leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency obesity, and Bardet-Biedl and Alström syndrome.