Autolus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AUTL) Shares Climb 6.2% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Autolus Therapeutics shares rose 6.2% to approximately $1.98, although trading volume was 75% below the stock’s average daily volume.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a $10.00 average price target—substantially above the current share price.
• The company beat quarterly expectations, reporting an adjusted loss of $0.15 per share versus estimates of $0.21 and revenue of $45.69 million versus forecasts of $38.56 million; institutional investors own 72.83% of the stock.

Autolus Therapeutics PLC Sponsored ADR (NASDAQ:AUTL - Get Free Report)'s stock price shot up 6.2% on Wednesday. The stock traded as high as $1.98 and last traded at $1.9750. 450,965 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 1,783,079 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Autolus Therapeutics from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, August 16th. Weiss Ratings raised Autolus Therapeutics from a "sell (e+)" rating to a "sell (d-)" rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $10.00 price objective on shares of Autolus Therapeutics in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $10.00.

Autolus Therapeutics Stock Up 5.1%

The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1.71. The stock has a market cap of $520.35 million, a P/E ratio of -1.85 and a beta of 2.10. The company has a quick ratio of 4.40, a current ratio of 4.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04.

Autolus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AUTL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 11th. The company reported ($0.15) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.21) by $0.06. The business had revenue of $45.69 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $38.56 million. Autolus Therapeutics had a negative return on equity of 178.66% and a negative net margin of 238.66%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Autolus Therapeutics PLC Sponsored ADR will post -0.75 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autolus Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Syncona Portfolio Ltd bought a new position in Autolus Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,625,152. Alphabet Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Autolus Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at approximately $1,117,000. Armistice Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Autolus Therapeutics by 12.2% during the fourth quarter. Armistice Capital LLC now owns 17,500,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,825,000 after buying an additional 1,900,000 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Autolus Therapeutics by 67.7% during the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 18,325 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 7,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd raised its stake in shares of Autolus Therapeutics by 55.1% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 44,053 shares of the company's stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 15,647 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.83% of the company's stock.

About Autolus Therapeutics

Autolus Therapeutics plc NASDAQ: AUTL is a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing programmed T-cell therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The company uses genetic engineering to create CAR T-cell products designed to recognize and eliminate cancer cells while improving control, persistence and safety compared with earlier-generation cell therapies.

Autolus' lead product, obecabtagene autoleucel, also known as obe-cel and marketed in the United States as AUCATZYL, is a CD19-directed autologous CAR T-cell therapy.

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