Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:KZR) Receives Average Recommendation of “Reduce” from Analysts

Shares of Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:KZR) have been given an average recommendation of “Reduce” by the six ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $6.00.

KZR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen cut Kezar Life Sciences from a “strong-buy” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $5.00 price objective on Kezar Life Sciences and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Kezar Life Sciences to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 13th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Kezar Life Sciences from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $18.00 to $7.00 in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “neutral” rating on shares of Kezar Life Sciences in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kezar Life Sciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Woodline Partners LP bought a new position in Kezar Life Sciences during the first quarter valued at about $125,000. Stonepine Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Kezar Life Sciences by 69.9% during the second quarter. Stonepine Capital Management LLC now owns 169,859 shares of the company’s stock valued at $778,000 after acquiring an additional 69,859 shares during the period. Finally, BML Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Kezar Life Sciences by 55.6% during the second quarter. BML Capital Management LLC now owns 635,183 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,909,000 after acquiring an additional 227,045 shares during the period. 67.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Kezar Life Sciences Price Performance

NASDAQ KZR opened at $6.15 on Friday. Kezar Life Sciences has a twelve month low of $3.53 and a twelve month high of $8.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 7.29 and a current ratio of 7.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.02 million, a PE ratio of -0.63 and a beta of 0.62. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $4.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.25.

Kezar Life Sciences (NASDAQ:KZR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 13th. The company reported ($1.87) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($2.15) by $0.28. Research analysts anticipate that Kezar Life Sciences will post -4.39 EPS for the current year.

Kezar Life Sciences Company Profile

Kezar Life Sciences, Inc, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics to treat unmet needs in immune-mediated diseases and cancer in the United States. The company's lead product candidate is zetomipzomib (KZR-616), a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor that is in Phase 2b clinical trials for various indications, including lupus nephritis, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis; Phase 1b clinical trials in systemic lupus erythematosus; and completed Phase 2a clinical trials in lupus nephritis.