Short Interest in Oculis Holding AG (NASDAQ:OCS) Grows By 321.9%

Key Points

• Oculis Holding AG saw a significant increase in short interest of 321.9% in August, with 40,500 shares sold short as of August 15th.
• Analysts have a consensus buy rating for Oculis, with target prices ranging from $33.00 to $36.00, and an average target price of $35.75.
• Oculis reported a loss of ($0.59) EPS for the last quarter, missing the consensus estimate, while its revenue of $0.25 million exceeded expectations of $0.14 million.

Oculis Holding AG (NASDAQ:OCS - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totaling 40,500 shares, anincreaseof321.9% from the July 31st total of 9,600 shares. Approximately0.1% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 18,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 18,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days. Approximately0.1% of the company's stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on OCS. Needham & Company LLC began coverage on Oculis in a research report on Wednesday, August 27th. They set a "buy" rating and a $36.00 price objective for the company. HC Wainwright lifted their price objective on Oculis from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Oculis presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $35.75.

Oculis Stock Performance

Shares of Oculis stock traded up $0.03 during trading on Monday, reaching $17.25. The company's stock had a trading volume of 13,633 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,757. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 4.55 and a current ratio of 4.55. The business's fifty day moving average price is $17.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.33. The firm has a market cap of $753.14 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.46 and a beta of 0.27. Oculis has a one year low of $11.56 and a one year high of $23.08.

Oculis (NASDAQ:OCS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 21st. The company reported ($0.59) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.53) by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $0.25 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.14 million. Oculis had a negative return on equity of 90.31% and a negative net margin of 13,958.12%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Oculis will post -2.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oculis

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Pivotal bioVenture Partners Investment Advisor LLC increased its stake in shares of Oculis by 32.4% in the first quarter. Pivotal bioVenture Partners Investment Advisor LLC now owns 2,300,774 shares of the company's stock worth $43,784,000 after purchasing an additional 563,078 shares during the period. Aberdeen Group plc increased its stake in Oculis by 24.1% during the first quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 1,253,119 shares of the company's stock valued at $23,847,000 after acquiring an additional 243,695 shares during the period. SR One Capital Management LP bought a new position in Oculis during the first quarter valued at about $6,137,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new position in Oculis during the first quarter valued at about $2,499,000. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA increased its stake in Oculis by 11.5% during the second quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA now owns 97,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,883,000 after acquiring an additional 10,000 shares during the period. 22.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Oculis

Oculis Holding AG, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops drug candidates to treat ophthalmic diseases. The company's lead product candidate is OCS-01, a topical dexamethasone optireach formulation, which is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of diabetic macular edema; OCS-02, a topical biologic candidate that is in Phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment for dry eye disease; and OCS-05, a disease modifying neuroprotective agent for neurological damage with indications for glaucoma, dry age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and acute optic neuritis.