Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Purchases New Stake in Glaukos Co. (NYSE:GKOS)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of Glaukos Co. (NYSE:GKOS - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 24,400 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock, valued at approximately $1,940,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System owned 0.05% of Glaukos as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its stake in shares of Glaukos by 4.0% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 33,979 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $2,557,000 after buying an additional 1,298 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Glaukos by 5.6% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 386,790 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $29,106,000 after buying an additional 20,415 shares during the last quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Glaukos in the third quarter worth $204,000. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Glaukos in the third quarter worth $6,367,000. Finally, Strs Ohio increased its stake in shares of Glaukos by 45.8% in the third quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 3,500 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $263,000 after buying an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.04% of the company's stock.

Glaukos Stock Performance

Shares of GKOS traded up $1.27 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $96.40. 697,810 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 674,916. Glaukos Co. has a 1-year low of $45.38 and a 1-year high of $102.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.84 billion, a PE ratio of -34.68 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 4.78 and a current ratio of 5.34. The business's 50 day moving average price is $91.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $80.73.

Glaukos (NYSE:GKOS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The medical instruments supplier reported ($0.63) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.56) by ($0.07). Glaukos had a negative net margin of 42.79% and a negative return on equity of 22.67%. The firm had revenue of $82.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $81.00 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.53) EPS. The business's revenue was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Glaukos Co. will post -2.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO Joseph E. Gilliam sold 140,245 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.14, for a total value of $12,922,174.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 98,388 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,065,470.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Glaukos news, CFO Alex R. Thurman sold 474 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.37, for a total value of $42,835.38. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 54,916 shares in the company, valued at $4,962,758.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, COO Joseph E. Gilliam sold 140,245 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.14, for a total transaction of $12,922,174.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 98,388 shares in the company, valued at $9,065,470.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 242,881 shares of company stock valued at $22,906,633 over the last 90 days. 7.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Glaukos from $83.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $110.00 target price on shares of Glaukos in a research note on Wednesday, April 3rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Glaukos from $107.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 25th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Glaukos from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Glaukos from $85.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Glaukos presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $99.80.

Glaukos Company Profile

Glaukos Corporation, an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company, focuses on the development of novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders, and retinal diseases. It offers iStent and iStent inject W micro-bypass stents that enhance aqueous humor outflow inserted in cataract surgery to treat mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma.