Short Interest in Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ:ATOS) Declines By 41.7%

Atossa Genetics Inc. (NASDAQ:ATOS) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 1,370,000 shares, a decrease of 41.7% from the September 30th total of 2,350,000 shares. Currently, 1.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 1,070,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 1,070,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days. Currently, 1.2% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Atossa Genetics during the second quarter worth $2,468,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in Atossa Genetics during the second quarter worth $381,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Atossa Genetics by 40.1% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 422,582 shares of the company’s stock worth $284,000 after purchasing an additional 120,934 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its stake in Atossa Genetics by 357.4% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 416,374 shares of the company’s stock worth $346,000 after purchasing an additional 325,340 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Atossa Genetics in the second quarter valued at $321,000. 12.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Atossa Genetics Stock Up 1.1%

NASDAQ:ATOS opened at $0.89 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $0.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.85. Atossa Genetics has a 52 week low of $0.55 and a 52 week high of $1.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $114.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.87 and a beta of 1.11.

Atossa Genetics (NASDAQ:ATOS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 12th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.06) by ($0.01). On average, sell-side analysts expect that Atossa Genetics will post -0.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ATOS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Atossa Genetics in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research lowered Atossa Genetics from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Monday, October 13th. Finally, Ascendiant Capital Markets increased their price objective on Atossa Genetics from $7.50 to $7.75 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $6.25.

Atossa Genetics Company Profile

Atossa Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops medicines in the areas of unmet medical need in oncology for women breast cancer and other conditions in the United States. The company's lead drug candidate is oral (Z)-endoxifen, an active metabolite of tamoxifen, which is in Phase II clinical trials to treat and prevent breast cancer.