Aura Biosciences (NASDAQ:AURA) Upgraded by HC Wainwright to "Buy" Rating

HC Wainwright upgraded shares of Aura Biosciences (NASDAQ:AURA - Free Report) to a buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has $22.00 price target on the stock. HC Wainwright also issued estimates for Aura Biosciences' Q2 2025 earnings at ($0.46) EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at ($0.46) EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at ($0.51) EPS, FY2025 earnings at ($1.96) EPS, FY2026 earnings at ($2.12) EPS, FY2027 earnings at ($1.92) EPS, FY2028 earnings at ($1.60) EPS and FY2029 earnings at ($1.17) EPS.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $19.00 target price on shares of Aura Biosciences in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Lifesci Capital upgraded shares of Aura Biosciences to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Aura Biosciences in a report on Wednesday, March 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aura Biosciences presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $22.00.

Aura Biosciences Stock Down 4.1%

Shares of Aura Biosciences stock traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $5.84. The company's stock had a trading volume of 266,431 shares, compared to its average volume of 206,590. Aura Biosciences has a 1-year low of $4.35 and a 1-year high of $12.38. The business has a fifty day moving average of $5.63 and a 200 day moving average of $7.24. The company has a market capitalization of $293.57 million, a PE ratio of -3.38 and a beta of 0.43.

Aura Biosciences (NASDAQ:AURA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 15th. The company reported ($0.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.47) by ($0.08). On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Aura Biosciences will post -1.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director David Michael Johnson acquired 20,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $4.90 per share, with a total value of $98,000.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 166,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $814,218.30. The trade was a 13.68% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Anthony S. Gibney acquired 50,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $4.90 per share, for a total transaction of $245,000.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 58,452 shares in the company, valued at approximately $286,414.80. This trade represents a 591.58% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 9,578 shares of company stock valued at $52,067 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 5.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Aura Biosciences

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets acquired a new stake in shares of Aura Biosciences in the 4th quarter worth about $50,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Aura Biosciences by 5,766.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,739 shares of the company's stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 9,573 shares during the period. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Aura Biosciences during the 4th quarter valued at about $87,000. Ascent Group LLC acquired a new position in Aura Biosciences during the 1st quarter valued at about $124,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Aura Biosciences during the 4th quarter valued at about $127,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.75% of the company's stock.

About Aura Biosciences

Aura Biosciences, Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops precision immunotherapies to treat a range of solid tumors. The company's proprietary platform enables the targeting of a range of solid tumors using virus-like particles conjugated with drugs or loaded with nucleic acids to create virus-like drug conjugates.