Roche (OTCMKTS:RHHBY) Sets New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Roche shares reached a new 52-week high, trading as high as $61.41 and last changing hands at $61.11, up from the prior close of $59.62.
• Analyst sentiment is generally positive: eight analysts rate Roche a Buy and five a Hold, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating, though the $60 average price target is below the current share price.
• Several institutional investors increased their Roche holdings or initiated new positions, while the company continues to focus on pharmaceuticals and diagnostics across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, ophthalmology and hematology.

Roche Holding AG (OTCMKTS:RHHBY - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Friday. The stock traded as high as $61.41 and last traded at $61.11, with a volume of 1,066,831 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $59.62.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on RHHBY shares. Oddo Bhf raised Roche to an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Roche from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. HSBC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of Roche in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on shares of Roche in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. They issued an "outperform" rating on the stock. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Roche from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, August 24th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.00.

Roche Trading Up 1.0%

The firm's 50 day moving average is $55.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Institutional Trading of Roche

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. OLD National Bancorp IN increased its position in shares of Roche by 0.7% during the first quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 257,854 shares of the company's stock worth $12,623,000 after buying an additional 1,732 shares during the period. S&CO Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Roche by 163.0% in the 1st quarter. S&CO Inc. now owns 140,551 shares of the company's stock worth $6,880,000 after purchasing an additional 87,107 shares in the last quarter. Opal Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Roche in the first quarter valued at $4,448,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Roche by 15.3% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 33,458 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,736,000 after buying an additional 4,443 shares during the last quarter. Finally, North Star Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Roche during the second quarter valued at about $1,351,000.

About Roche

Roche Holding AG is a Switzerland-based healthcare company focused on pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Basel, Roche develops medicines and diagnostic technologies intended to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases.

The company's pharmaceutical business concentrates on areas including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, ophthalmology and hematology. Its products include targeted cancer therapies, treatments for multiple sclerosis and hemophilia, and medicines for other specialized conditions.

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