Zevra Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ZVRA) Stock Rating Upgraded by Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen upgraded Zevra Therapeutics from a "hold" to a "buy," joining other analysts such that seven firms now rate the stock a Buy and two rate it a Hold, with an average price target of $23.00.
• Company insiders have been net sellers recently: CEO Neil F. McFarlane sold 91,000 shares (a ~19.98% reduction) and insiders sold 114,158 shares totaling about $1.06 million in the past 90 days, while insiders now own 2.40% of the company.
• Zevra shares opened at $9.47 (50- and 200-day moving averages ~ $9.2), have a market cap of about $556 million, a trailing PE of 7.12, and a 12‑month range of $6.52 to $13.16.

Zevra Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ZVRA - Get Free Report) was upgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday.

ZVRA has been the topic of a number of other reports. Guggenheim set a $23.00 target price on Zevra Therapeutics and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. HC Wainwright set a $26.00 target price on Zevra Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, December 30th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Zevra Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, March 16th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $23.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Zevra Therapeutics from a "sell (d+)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Zevra Therapeutics has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $23.00.

Zevra Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of ZVRA opened at $9.47 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $9.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.24. Zevra Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $6.52 and a 12-month high of $13.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $555.98 million, a PE ratio of 7.12 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 5.68 and a quick ratio of 5.63.

Insider Activity at Zevra Therapeutics

In related news, insider Joshua Schafer sold 10,500 shares of Zevra Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.19, for a total transaction of $96,495.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 62,278 shares in the company, valued at $572,334.82. The trade was a 14.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Neil F. Mcfarlane sold 91,000 shares of Zevra Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.38, for a total transaction of $853,580.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 364,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,417,603. This represents a 19.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 114,158 shares of company stock valued at $1,062,878 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Zevra Therapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. CWM LLC raised its position in Zevra Therapeutics by 399.5% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,872 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 2,297 shares in the last quarter. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new stake in Zevra Therapeutics in the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in Zevra Therapeutics by 235.7% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 6,374 shares of the company's stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 4,475 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in Zevra Therapeutics by 617.5% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 9,937 shares of the company's stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 8,552 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning bought a new stake in Zevra Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $92,000. 35.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Zevra Therapeutics Company Profile

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc discovers and develops various proprietary prodrugs to treat serious medical conditions in the United States. The company develops its products through Ligand Activated Therapy platform. Its lead product candidate is KP1077, consisting of KP1077IH, which is under Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia, and KP1077N, which is under Phase ½ clinical trial to treat narcolepsy. The company is also developing Celiprolol, a prodrug product candidate that is under Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome.

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