KalVista Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:KALV) Hits New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALV)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $21.31 and last traded at $19.77, with a volume of 1288021 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.13.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on KALV shares. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. HC Wainwright raised their price objective on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $27.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 9th. Citizens Jmp dropped their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 26th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC upped their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 25th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $32.60.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Trading Down 1.8%

The company has a quick ratio of 7.21, a current ratio of 7.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.18. The company has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.01 and a beta of -0.40. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $16.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.55.

Insider Activity at KalVista Pharmaceuticals

In related news, major shareholder Venrock Healthcare Capital Par sold 174,645 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.95, for a total transaction of $2,960,232.75. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 5,129,340 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $86,942,313. The trade was a 3.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Benjamin L. Palleiko sold 10,034 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total transaction of $156,229.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 442,883 shares in the company, valued at $6,895,688.31. This represents a 2.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last quarter, insiders sold 248,009 shares of company stock worth $4,213,467. Insiders own 4.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of KalVista Pharmaceuticals

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 47.0% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,041 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 1,292 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $55,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. Truvestments Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 253.8% during the fourth quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 4,684 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 3,360 shares during the period. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter worth $63,000.

About KalVista Pharmaceuticals

KalVista Pharmaceuticals is a clinical‐stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of small‐molecule protease inhibitors for orphan and specialty disease indications. The firm’s scientific platform centers on selective inhibition of plasma kallikrein, a serine protease implicated in disorders characterized by vascular leak, edema and inflammation. KalVista’s approach leverages oral and intravitreal delivery formats to target both systemic and ophthalmic conditions.

The company’s lead programs include an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor in clinical trials for the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks and an intravitreal kallikrein inhibitor being evaluated for diabetic macular edema.