Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) have earned an average rating of “Buy” from the nine research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $76.29.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Akero Therapeutics from $42.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup raised their target price on Akero Therapeutics from $65.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. HC Wainwright boosted their price target on Akero Therapeutics from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Akero Therapeutics in a research note on Sunday, March 2nd. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their price objective on shares of Akero Therapeutics from $56.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th.

Insider Activity

In other Akero Therapeutics news, insider Catriona Yale sold 614 shares of Akero Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $27,556.32. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 95,034 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,265,125.92. The trade was a 0.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Jonathan Young sold 607 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.88, for a total value of $27,242.16. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 200,540 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,000,235.20. This trade represents a 0.30 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 198,708 shares of company stock worth $8,673,699 over the last 90 days. 7.94% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Akero Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. purchased a new position in Akero Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 764.3% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,789 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 1,582 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its holdings in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 19.0% during the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 2,570 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,000 after acquiring an additional 410 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 2,664 shares of the company’s stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV acquired a new position in Akero Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $120,000.

Akero Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AKRO opened at $42.02 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 17.25, a current ratio of 17.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.49 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.24. The company has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a PE ratio of -11.21 and a beta of -0.12. Akero Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $17.86 and a fifty-two week high of $58.40.

Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.99) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.98) by ($0.01). On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Akero Therapeutics will post -3.99 EPS for the current year.

Akero Therapeutics Company Profile

Akero Therapeutics, Inc, together with its subsidiary, engages in the development of treatments for patients with serious metabolic diseases in the United States. The company's lead product candidate is efruxifermin (EFX), which is in Phase 3 clinical trials that protects against cellular stress and regulates the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins throughout the body for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) patients.