Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the seven research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $32.86.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on VIR. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Vir Biotechnology from $26.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Vir Biotechnology from $28.00 to $21.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $14.00 price target on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Thursday, May 22nd.

Vir Biotechnology Stock Performance

VIR stock remained flat at $5.22 during midday trading on Thursday. 892,950 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,381,979. The firm has a market capitalization of $721.60 million, a P/E ratio of -1.33 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.36. Vir Biotechnology has a fifty-two week low of $4.32 and a fifty-two week high of $14.45.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported ($0.88) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.83) by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $3.03 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $8.59 million. Vir Biotechnology had a negative return on equity of 36.71% and a negative net margin of 678.40%. Vir Biotechnology's revenue was down 94.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.48) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Vir Biotechnology will post -3.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Vir Biotechnology news, CEO Backer Marianne De sold 79,712 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.95, for a total transaction of $474,286.40. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 769,505 shares in the company, valued at $4,578,554.75. This trade represents a 9.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 16.00% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VIR. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 524.3% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 7,111 shares of the company's stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 5,972 shares during the period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $60,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 31.8% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,288 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 1,999 shares during the period. Finally, FORA Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology during the first quarter valued at approximately $70,000. 65.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vir Biotechnology Company Profile

Vir Biotechnology, Inc, an immunology company, develops therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Its clinical development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting hepatitis delta virus (HDV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The company's preclinical candidates include those targeting influenza A and B, coronavirus disease 2019, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (MPV), and human papillomavirus (HPV).