Investors Purchase High Volume of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Call Options (NASDAQ:RARE)

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:RARE) saw some unusual options trading activity on Tuesday. Traders purchased 3,801 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 154% compared to the typical volume of 1,498 call options.

Key Stores Impacting Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Here are the key news stories impacting Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Ultragenyx completed the rolling BLA submission to the FDA for DTX401 (pariglasgene brecaparvovec) for GSDIa — the filing now includes CMC, clinical and non‑clinical modules; the program has RMAT/ Fast Track/orphan designations and Phase 3 data across ~52 patients showing reduced cornstarch use and improved glycemic control. This is a multi‑year commercial catalyst if approved and would be the first therapy addressing the underlying cause of GSDIa. GlobeNewswire: BLA Submission
• Positive Sentiment: Unusual options activity: an above‑average number of call contracts traded, indicating speculative/hedged bullish interest that may amplify intraday upside.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts revised price targets lower after the recent volatility but largely maintained Outperform/Buy ratings (examples: Baird, Leerink, Jefferies, Wells Fargo), leaving materially higher median targets than the current price — reflects confidence in longer‑term pipeline value but acknowledges near‑term uncertainty. Benzinga: Analyst Moves
• Neutral Sentiment: Small insider sale disclosed (CAO sold 85 shares) — immaterial to ownership but noted by market participants. SEC filing: SEC Filing
• Negative Sentiment: Major negative catalyst: Ultragenyx and partner Mereo announced that two Phase 3 studies of setrusumab in osteogenesis imperfecta failed to meet primary endpoints (no reduction in fracture rate), which precipitated a steep market decline and prompted operational retrenchment announcements. This materially reduces near‑term revenue prospects and created significant investor uncertainty. Reuters: Setrusumab Phase 3 Failure
• Negative Sentiment: Two law firms (Pomerantz, Portnoy) announced investigations into Ultragenyx that may lead to securities litigation related to the trial misses and disclosures — potential legal overhang and expense risk. GlobeNewswire: Pomerantz GlobeNewswire: Portnoy
• Negative Sentiment: Market mechanics: trading was halted as key news hit and the shares experienced extreme intraday volatility and high volume, reflecting rapid re‑pricing and elevated risk for short‑term holders. Coverage and headlines amplified the selloff. MarketWatch: Shares Slide

Insider Activity at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

In related news, CFO Howard Horn sold 3,081 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.38, for a total value of $112,086.78. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 95,146 shares in the company, valued at $3,461,411.48. This represents a 3.14% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 11,108 shares of company stock worth $365,262. 5.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP increased its position in Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical by 2.4% during the third quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 265,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $7,971,000 after purchasing an additional 6,319 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical in the third quarter valued at $39,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its stake in Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical by 614.1% during the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 2,167,729 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $65,205,000 after acquiring an additional 1,864,164 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its stake in Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical by 2.0% during the third quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 26,932 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $817,000 after acquiring an additional 534 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical during the 3rd quarter worth about $14,516,000. 97.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical from $100.00 to $90.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 5th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical from $81.00 to $50.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 24th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical from $114.00 to $63.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical from $65.00 to $45.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $75.19.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Stock Performance

Shares of RARE opened at $22.78 on Wednesday. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical has a fifty-two week low of $18.41 and a fifty-two week high of $46.50. The company has a market capitalization of $2.20 billion, a PE ratio of -3.84 and a beta of 0.16. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $33.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.01.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical (NASDAQ:RARE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.81) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.23) by ($0.58). Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical had a negative net margin of 91.95% and a negative return on equity of 414.17%. The business had revenue of $159.93 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $167.42 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.40) EPS. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical will post -5.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Company Profile

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for rare and ultra-rare genetic disorders. Since its founding in 2010 and headquarters in Novato, California, the company has built expertise in protein replacement therapies, small molecules and gene therapy approaches to address high-unmet medical needs. Ultragenyx applies a precision medicine model, leveraging both in-house research and strategic collaborations to advance its product pipeline from discovery through regulatory approval.

The company’s commercial portfolio includes Crysvita (burosumab-tmyl) for X-linked hypophosphatemia, Mepsevii (vestronidase alfa-vjbk) for mucopolysaccharidosis VII and Dojolvi (triheptanoin) for long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders.