Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO) Stock Price Up 5.5%

Shares of Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO - Get Free Report) were up 5.5% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $20.77 and last traded at $20.74. Approximately 65,585 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 94% from the average daily volume of 1,191,632 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.66.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Akero Therapeutics from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. Bank of America began coverage on Akero Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. They set a "neutral" rating and a $30.00 price target for the company. Finally, HC Wainwright upped their price target on Akero Therapeutics from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Akero Therapeutics has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $37.71.

Akero Therapeutics Trading Up 12.5 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $24.28 and a 200-day moving average of $21.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 29.27 and a current ratio of 29.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.76 and a beta of -0.29.

Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported ($0.99) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.82) by ($0.17). As a group, equities analysts predict that Akero Therapeutics, Inc. will post -3.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, COO Jonathan Young sold 5,000 shares of Akero Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.15, for a total transaction of $100,750.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 258,306 shares in the company, valued at $5,204,865.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Andrew Cheng sold 75,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.87, for a total value of $2,465,250.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 591,416 shares in the company, valued at $19,439,843.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Jonathan Young sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.15, for a total value of $100,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 258,306 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,204,865.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 105,646 shares of company stock valued at $3,420,627. Corporate insiders own 9.69% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Akero Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AKRO. Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 40.0% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,750 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. now owns 9,428 shares of the company's stock worth $477,000 after acquiring an additional 918 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank increased its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 1.0% during the third quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 97,300 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,921,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Akero Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $51,000. Finally, Strs Ohio lifted its position in Akero Therapeutics by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 2,000 shares of the company's stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period.

About Akero Therapeutics

Akero Therapeutics, Inc, together with its subsidiary, engages in the development of treatments for patients with serious metabolic diseases in the United States. The company's lead product candidate is efruxifermin (EFX), which is in Phase 3 clinical trials that protects against cellular stress and regulates the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins throughout the body for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients.