Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) Receives Consensus Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) has been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the fourteen research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $73.3750.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on AKRO shares. Jefferies Financial Group cut Akero Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $75.00 to $56.00 in a report on Thursday, October 9th. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Akero Therapeutics from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 10th. Lifesci Capital lowered shares of Akero Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 9th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Akero Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $54.00 price objective (down previously from $72.00) on shares of Akero Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, October 10th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Akero Therapeutics

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in AKRO. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Akero Therapeutics by 1.6% in the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 16,503 shares of the company’s stock valued at $784,000 after acquiring an additional 257 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in Akero Therapeutics by 17.7% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,952 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 15.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 3,079 shares of the company’s stock valued at $164,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 189.7% during the 3rd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 675 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 442 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Akero Therapeutics by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 7,542 shares of the company’s stock worth $305,000 after buying an additional 450 shares during the period.

Akero Therapeutics Trading Up 0.2%

NASDAQ AKRO opened at $54.65 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $4.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -28.17 and a beta of -0.40. Akero Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $21.34 and a 1-year high of $58.40. The company has a 50 day moving average of $54.47 and a 200-day moving average of $51.32.

Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.99) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.94) by ($0.05). On average, analysts forecast that Akero Therapeutics will post -3.99 earnings per share for the current year.

About Akero Therapeutics

Akero Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapies for severe metabolic diseases, with an initial emphasis on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The company’s research platform leverages engineered versions of endocrine hormones to target key pathways involved in lipid metabolism, glucose regulation and tissue fibrosis. By harnessing the biology of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), Akero aims to address underlying drivers of metabolic dysfunction rather than merely treating symptoms.

The company’s lead product candidate, efruxifermin, is an Fc-FGF21 fusion protein designed to improve liver health and metabolic parameters in patients with NASH.