Vera Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VERA) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.36 EPS

Key Points

• Q1 EPS miss: Vera Therapeutics reported GAAP EPS of ($1.69), missing the consensus by $0.36 and worsening from ($0.81) a year earlier.
• Shares slipped to $35.88 (down $0.72 intraday) after the print; the company has a $2.56 billion market cap and a consensus analyst rating of “Moderate Buy” with an average target of $79.60 despite recent price-target hikes to as high as $110.
• Insider selling has been notable, with executives disposing of 56,441 shares (~$2.42M) in the past 90 days (including recent sales by the COO and SVP), though insiders still hold about 15.9% of the stock.

Vera Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VERA - Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Thursday. The company reported ($1.69) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.33) by ($0.36), Briefing.com reports. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.81) EPS.

Vera Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:VERA traded down $0.72 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.88. The company had a trading volume of 972,545 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,190,760. The company's 50 day moving average price is $39.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.35. The company has a current ratio of 13.64, a quick ratio of 13.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The stock has a market cap of $2.56 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.70 and a beta of 0.96. Vera Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $18.76 and a 52-week high of $56.05.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on VERA. HC Wainwright upped their target price on shares of Vera Therapeutics from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Wolfe Research raised shares of Vera Therapeutics from a "peer perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $88.00 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Vera Therapeutics in a report on Monday, April 20th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $79.60.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, COO David Lee Johnson sold 2,579 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.98, for a total value of $108,266.42. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 45,727 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,919,619.46. The trade was a 5.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Joseph R. Young sold 3,117 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.98, for a total transaction of $130,851.66. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 64,722 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,717,029.56. This trade represents a 4.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 56,441 shares of company stock worth $2,416,902 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 15.90% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vera Therapeutics

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VERA. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vera Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $46,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at about $51,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $71,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 192.9% during the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,186 shares of the company's stock valued at $99,000 after buying an additional 2,757 shares during the period. Finally, Sandia Investment Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $127,000. 99.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vera Therapeutics Company Profile

Vera Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies that harness the body's own regulatory T cells to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. By leveraging a proprietary protein engineering platform, the company designs Treg-selective cytokine variants intended to restore immune balance and provide targeted, disease-modifying effects. Its pipeline comprises multiple preclinical and clinical candidates aimed at indications characterized by chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Vera Therapeutics collaborates with leading academic and research institutions to advance its development programs.

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