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

Shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALV) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $22.50 and last traded at $20.4510, with a volume of 1695 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.12.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, April 5th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. Finally, HC Wainwright increased their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $27.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, KalVista Pharmaceuticals has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $32.60.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 3.5%

The stock’s fifty day moving average is $16.82 and its 200 day moving average is $14.81. The company has a current ratio of 7.22, a quick ratio of 7.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.18. The company has a market capitalization of $1.02 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.05 and a beta of -0.40.

Insider Activity at KalVista Pharmaceuticals

In related news, CFO Brian Piekos sold 1,767 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total transaction of $27,512.19. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,762 shares in the company, valued at $214,274.34. This represents a 11.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, major shareholder Venrock Healthcare Capital Par sold 39,986 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.28, for a total transaction of $730,944.08. Following the sale, the insider owned 5,089,354 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $93,033,391.12. This represents a 0.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 248,009 shares of company stock worth $4,213,467 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 4.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 47.0% in the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,041 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 1,292 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $55,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth $63,000. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC raised its holdings in KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 253.8% in the 4th 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 in the last quarter.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

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.