Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS - Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,910,000 shares, a decrease of 29.5% from the April 30th total of 2,710,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,890,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days. Approximately 3.3% of the company's shares are short sold.

Regulus Therapeutics Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of RGLS stock traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $8.10. 2,360,621 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 920,123. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $5.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $2.72. Regulus Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $0.83 and a 12-month high of $8.20. The stock has a market cap of $560.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.57 and a beta of 0.49.

Regulus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:RGLS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.15) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.29) by $0.14. On average, equities analysts forecast that Regulus Therapeutics will post -0.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Leerink Partners reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $7.00 target price on shares of Regulus Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "equal weight" rating and set a $9.00 target price on shares of Regulus Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen assumed coverage on shares of Regulus Therapeutics in a report on Sunday, May 18th. They set a "sell" rating for the company. Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $11.00 target price (down from $28.00) on shares of Regulus Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Leerink Partnrs lowered shares of Regulus Therapeutics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $8.50.

Insider Transactions at Regulus Therapeutics

In other news, insider Preston Klassen bought 12,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $7.99 per share, for a total transaction of $95,880.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 48,055 shares in the company, valued at approximately $383,959.45. This trade represents a 33.28% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 4.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Regulus Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in Regulus Therapeutics by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 38,345 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 1,644 shares during the period. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Regulus Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $96,000. PEAK6 LLC bought a new stake in Regulus Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $95,000. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Regulus Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $120,000. Finally, Velan Capital Investment Management LP bought a new stake in Regulus Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $111,000. Institutional investors own 92.38% of the company's stock.

About Regulus Therapeutics

Regulus Therapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovery and development of drugs that targets microRNAs to treat a range of diseases in the United States. Its product candidates include RGLS8429, an anti-miR next generation oligonucleotide targeting miR-17, which is in Phase 1b clinical trial for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.