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

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

KALV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 25th. HC Wainwright upped their price target on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $27.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut KalVista Pharmaceuticals from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $32.60.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.03 billion, a PE ratio of -5.09 and a beta of -0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.18, a quick ratio of 7.21 and a current ratio of 7.22. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.75.

Insider Activity at KalVista Pharmaceuticals

In other news, CFO Brian Piekos sold 1,767 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total transaction of $27,512.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,762 shares in the company, valued at approximately $214,274.34. This represents a 11.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Nicole Sweeny sold 3,975 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 value of $61,890.75. Following the transaction, the insider owned 47,003 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $731,836.71. This trade represents a 7.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 248,009 shares of company stock worth $4,213,467. 4.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On KalVista Pharmaceuticals

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake 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 buying an additional 1,292 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank acquired a new stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Truvestments Capital LLC raised its position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 253.8% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 4,684 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 3,360 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $63,000.

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.