Renaissance Technologies LLC Buys 55,300 Shares of Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR)

Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIR) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,237,600 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 55,300 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.90% of Vir Biotechnology worth $9,084,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 236,681 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,737,000 after acquiring an additional 1,288 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Vir Biotechnology by 31.8% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 1,999 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas boosted its position in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 10.7% in the fourth quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 26,440 shares of the company’s stock worth $194,000 after purchasing an additional 2,556 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 398,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,927,000 after purchasing an additional 2,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Vir Biotechnology by 11.1% in the fourth quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 29,202 shares of the company’s stock worth $214,000 after purchasing an additional 2,922 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.32% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vir Biotechnology

In related news, CEO Backer Marianne De sold 79,712 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.95, for a total value of $474,286.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 769,505 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,578,554.75. This represents a 9.39 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Verneuil Vanina De sold 7,373 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.14, for a total value of $67,389.22. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 79,460 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $726,264.40. This trade represents a 8.49 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 99,611 shares of company stock worth $663,525 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 15.60% of the company’s stock.

Vir Biotechnology Stock Performance

VIR stock opened at $5.50 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $7.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $8.12. Vir Biotechnology, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $4.95 and a fifty-two week high of $14.45. The firm has a market cap of $754.29 million, a PE ratio of -1.40 and a beta of 1.14.

Vir Biotechnology (NASDAQ:VIR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported ($0.76) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.85) by $0.09. Vir Biotechnology had a negative net margin of 678.40% and a negative return on equity of 36.71%. The firm had revenue of $12.37 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.14 million. On average, equities analysts predict that Vir Biotechnology, Inc. will post -3.92 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Vir Biotechnology from $10.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Vir Biotechnology from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $20.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Vir Biotechnology from $28.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 price objective on shares of Vir Biotechnology in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Vir Biotechnology from $26.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $33.57.

Vir Biotechnology Profile

Vir Biotechnology, Inc, an immunology company, develops therapeutic products to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Its clinical development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting hepatitis delta virus (HDV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The company’s preclinical candidates include those targeting influenza A and B, coronavirus disease 2019, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (MPV), and human papillomavirus (HPV).