Septerna (NASDAQ:SEPN) Stock Price Down 6.1% After Insider Selling

Septerna, Inc. (NASDAQ:SEPN)’s share price was down 6.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday after an insider sold shares in the company. The stock traded as low as $45.28 and last traded at $45.2740. Approximately 391,444 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 9% from the average daily volume of 357,967 shares. The stock had previously closed at $48.19.

Specifically, COO Elizabeth Bhatt sold 25,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.00, for a total transaction of $1,100,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 174,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,665,196. The trade was a 12.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Guggenheim increased their target price on Septerna from $45.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus set a $49.00 target price on shares of Septerna in a report on Tuesday. HC Wainwright upped their price objective on shares of Septerna from $40.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Raymond James Financial reissued a “strong-buy” rating and issued a $49.00 target price on shares of Septerna in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Septerna from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Septerna presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.33.

Key Stories Impacting Septerna

Here are the key news stories impacting Septerna this week:

• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright significantly improved its Septerna earnings outlook, reducing its projected FY2026 loss to $1.15 per share from $2.17 and its FY2027 loss to $1.41 from $3.21. The firm retained a “Buy” rating and a $60 price target, suggesting analysts expect improved financial performance. HC Wainwright forecasts strong price appreciation for Septerna
• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright also raised its quarterly 2026 and 2027 EPS forecasts, with projected losses narrowing across every period. The revisions indicate better-than-expected operating trends or a more favorable development outlook for the clinical-stage biotechnology company. HC Wainwright earnings estimate revisions
• Positive Sentiment: JonesTrading raised its price target from $43 to $62 and assigned a “Buy” rating, while Wells Fargo increased its target from $48 to $50 and maintained an “Overweight” rating. These actions reinforce a favorable Wall Street view following Septerna’s recent earnings beat. JonesTrading raises Septerna price target
• Positive Sentiment: Septerna’s latest quarterly results exceeded expectations: the company reported a $0.29-per-share loss versus the anticipated $0.43 loss, while revenue of $26.75 million topped the $19.22 million consensus estimate. Septerna shares rise on better-than-expected earnings
• Negative Sentiment: COO Elizabeth Bhatt sold 25,000 shares for approximately $1.1 million at an average price of $44, reducing her ownership by 12.55%. She still holds 174,209 shares, but the insider sale could weigh on sentiment—particularly after the stock’s strong recent advance. Septerna COO insider share sale

Septerna Trading Down 1.4%

The stock has a market cap of $2.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -82.41 and a beta of 2.29. The company’s fifty day moving average is $35.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.64.

Septerna (NASDAQ:SEPN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.29) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.43) by $0.14. Septerna had a negative return on equity of 9.57% and a negative net margin of 24.51%.The company had revenue of $26.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.22 million. Analysts predict that Septerna, Inc. will post -1.32 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Septerna

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Light Asset Management LLC grew its position in Septerna by 18.0% in the 1st quarter. First Light Asset Management LLC now owns 732,860 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,611,000 after acquiring an additional 112,049 shares in the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC purchased a new stake in Septerna during the first quarter worth about $21,334,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Septerna during the first quarter worth about $619,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Septerna during the first quarter worth about $906,000. Finally, Swiss National Bank purchased a new position in shares of Septerna in the first quarter valued at approximately $531,000.

Septerna Company Profile

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new era of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oral small molecule drug discovery powered by our proprietary Native Complex Platform™. Our industrial-scale platform aims to unlock the full potential of GPCR therapies and has led to the discovery and development of our deep pipeline of product candidates focused initially on treating patients in three therapeutic areas: endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, and metabolic diseases. GPCRs are the largest and most diverse family of cell membrane receptors and regulate physiological processes in nearly every organ system of the human body.