Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share (NASDAQ:VRNA) Hits New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Verona Pharma PLC's stock price reached a **new 52-week high** of **$106.75**, with **729,263 shares** traded during mid-day on Thursday.
• While two analysts rated the stock as a **Buy**, twelve have issued a **Hold** rating, resulting in a consensus price target of **$109.00**.
• Verona Pharma reported **$0.13 earnings per share** for the last quarter, significantly beating analysts' expectations of a loss, and achieved revenue of **$103.14 million** compared to estimates of **$90.41 million**.

Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share (NASDAQ:VRNA - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $106.75 and last traded at $106.73, with a volume of 729263 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $106.39.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on VRNA shares. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 11th. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. BTIG Research downgraded shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Roth Capital downgraded shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Truist Financial cut shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $109.00.

Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 10.54 and a current ratio of 10.71. The stock has a market cap of $8.73 billion, a PE ratio of -107.80 and a beta of 0.14. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $105.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $85.63.

Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share (NASDAQ:VRNA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.01) by $0.14. The business had revenue of $103.14 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.41 million. Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share had a negative net margin of 36.62% and a negative return on equity of 21.12%. Analysts expect that Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share will post -1.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share

In other news, insider Kathleen A. Rickard sold 58,336 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.14, for a total value of $766,535.04. Following the transaction, the insider owned 2,607,472 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,262,182.08. This represents a 2.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO David Zaccardelli sold 208,912 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.14, for a total transaction of $2,745,103.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 13,376,144 shares in the company, valued at $175,762,532.16. The trade was a 1.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 540,584 shares of company stock valued at $7,103,274. 4.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. IFP Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share in the 2nd quarter valued at $52,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share by 44.2% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 630 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share in the 1st quarter valued at $48,000. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share by 278.2% in the 2nd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 764 shares of the company's stock valued at $72,000 after acquiring an additional 562 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.88% of the company's stock.

About Verona Pharma PLC American Depositary Share

Verona Pharma plc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on development and commercialization of therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases with unmet medical needs. The company's product candidate is ensifentrine, an inhaled and dual inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and PDE4 enzymes that acts as both a bronchodilator and an anti-inflammatory agent in a single compound, which is in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cystic fibrosis.

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