CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) Stock Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• CRISPR Therapeutics shares rose above their 200-day moving average, reaching $54.17 and last trading at $54.11, up 5.1%.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $65.75, despite one sell rating.
• The company remains unprofitable, reporting a quarterly loss of $0.94 per share and projecting a full-year loss, while insiders sold 93,558 shares over the past three months.

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday. The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $52.94 and traded as high as $54.17. CRISPR Therapeutics shares last traded at $54.11, with a volume of 1,130,905 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on CRSP. Weiss Ratings restated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and issued a $80.00 price objective on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a report on Monday, August 31st. William Blair upgraded CRISPR Therapeutics to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Citigroup reiterated a "market outperform" rating on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and set a $82.00 target price on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, August 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $65.75.

CRISPR Therapeutics Trading Up 5.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 17.85 and a current ratio of 17.85. The firm has a market cap of $5.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.37 and a beta of 1.76. The business has a fifty day moving average of $54.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $52.94.

CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 30th. The company reported ($0.94) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $10.18 million during the quarter. CRISPR Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 3,368.72% and a negative return on equity of 24.39%. As a group, equities analysts expect that CRISPR Therapeutics AG will post -4.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at CRISPR Therapeutics

In other news, General Counsel James R. Kasinger sold 1,040 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.26, for a total transaction of $51,230.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel directly owned 95,857 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,721,915.82. This trade represents a 1.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, Director Ali Behbahani sold 13,679 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.09, for a total transaction of $780,934.11. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 16,637 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $949,806.33. This trade represents a 45.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 93,558 shares of company stock valued at $4,881,663 over the last three months. Company insiders own 5.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CRISPR Therapeutics

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CRSP. Swiss National Bank grew its holdings in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 169,700 shares of the company's stock worth $8,073,000 after purchasing an additional 8,200 shares during the period. Affinity Asset Advisors LLC purchased a new position in CRISPR Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at about $7,136,000. Congress Asset Management Co. boosted its position in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 1.6% in the third quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 111,230 shares of the company's stock worth $6,153,000 after buying an additional 1,777 shares during the period. KBC Group NV boosted its position in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 3,999.9% in the first quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 116,847 shares of the company's stock worth $5,558,000 after buying an additional 113,997 shares during the period. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System grew its stake in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 29.6% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 101,232 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,816,000 after buying an additional 23,109 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.20% of the company's stock.

CRISPR Therapeutics Company Profile

CRISPR Therapeutics AG NASDAQ: CRSP is a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative gene-based medicines using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. The company's research programs are designed to address genetic diseases by precisely modifying DNA in cells, with applications across hematology, immunology, oncology, regenerative medicine and cardiovascular disease.

Its lead commercial product is CASGEVY, an autologous cell therapy developed in collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

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