Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZVRA) Short Interest Update

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZVRA) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 4,797,728 shares, an increase of 20.2% from the January 15th total of 3,991,736 shares. Currently, 8.7% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 965,487 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.0 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 965,487 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.0 days. Currently, 8.7% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Insider Transactions at Zevra Therapeutics

In other news, insider Adrian W. Quartel sold 4,533 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.83, for a total value of $40,026.39. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,723 shares in the company, valued at $85,854.09. This represents a 31.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Timothy J. Sangiovanni sold 3,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.18, for a total transaction of $27,540.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 29,590 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $271,636.20. This trade represents a 9.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 114,158 shares of company stock worth $1,062,878. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Zevra Therapeutics

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Zevra Therapeutics by 9.6% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,134,358 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,164,000 after acquiring an additional 99,107 shares during the last quarter. Man Group plc increased its stake in Zevra Therapeutics by 174.4% during the fourth quarter. Man Group plc now owns 92,347 shares of the company’s stock worth $827,000 after acquiring an additional 58,695 shares during the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP raised its position in Zevra Therapeutics by 23.4% during the fourth quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 44,020 shares of the company’s stock valued at $394,000 after purchasing an additional 8,359 shares during the period. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Zevra Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $124,000. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Zevra Therapeutics by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 181,129 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,623,000 after purchasing an additional 28,818 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 35.03% of the company’s stock.

Zevra Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ZVRA opened at $8.65 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $8.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.21. Zevra Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $6.19 and a 52-week high of $13.16. The company has a market cap of $487.00 million, a P/E ratio of 18.40 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 8.57 and a current ratio of 8.62.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ZVRA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. HC Wainwright set a $26.00 price target on shares of Zevra Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, December 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their target price on shares of Zevra Therapeutics from $25.00 to $24.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Zevra Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Zevra Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their price objective on Zevra Therapeutics from $29.00 to $24.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Zevra Therapeutics currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $22.80.

About Zevra Therapeutics

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.