Aardvark Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AARD) Trading Up 12% – Time to Buy?

Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AARD) shares were up 12% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $13.03 and last traded at $12.65. Approximately 152,066 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 186,140 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.29.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Aardvark Therapeutics from $19.00 to $18.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 14th. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on shares of Aardvark Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, December 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. William Blair initiated coverage on shares of Aardvark Therapeutics in a report on Friday, December 12th. They issued an “outperform” rating for the company. Raymond James Financial restated a “strong-buy” rating and set a $47.00 price target on shares of Aardvark Therapeutics in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Aardvark Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, November 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Aardvark Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $32.64.

Aardvark Therapeutics Price Performance

The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $13.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $12.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $275.39 million and a PE ratio of -5.97.

Aardvark Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AARD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 13th. The company reported ($0.75) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.82) by $0.07.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Tien-Li Lee purchased 7,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of $14.48 per share, for a total transaction of $101,360.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 1,551,613 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $22,467,356.24. The trade was a 0.45% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Nelson Sun acquired 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $14.40 per share, with a total value of $43,200.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer owned 108,484 shares in the company, valued at $1,562,169.60. The trade was a 2.84% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. bought a new stake in Aardvark Therapeutics during the 1st quarter valued at $153,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Aardvark Therapeutics by 129.7% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 136,927 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,851,000 after purchasing an additional 77,327 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund purchased a new stake in Aardvark Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $99,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new position in Aardvark Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in Aardvark Therapeutics by 72.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 7,989 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 3,369 shares during the period.

About Aardvark Therapeutics

Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, specializing in the discovery and development of small-molecule modulators of the retinoic acid receptor–related orphan receptor gamma (RORγ). RORγ plays a central role in T-helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation and inflammatory processes. By targeting this transcription factor, Aardvark aims to address a range of autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.

The company’s lead programs consist of selective RORγ inverse agonists designed to suppress pathogenic Th17-driven responses in conditions such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic inflammatory disorders.