FORA Capital LLC Takes $204,000 Position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS)

FORA Capital LLC bought a new stake in Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IONS) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 5,081 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $204,000.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Great Point Partners LLC acquired a new position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals during the second quarter worth about $15,728,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals by 3,287.0% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 328,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,171,000 after acquiring an additional 319,065 shares during the last quarter. Logos Global Management LP acquired a new position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals during the second quarter worth about $14,298,000. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals by 1,021.5% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 173,199 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,255,000 after acquiring an additional 157,756 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swedbank AB acquired a new position in Ionis Pharmaceuticals during the first quarter worth about $6,183,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.86% of the company’s stock.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

Shares of IONS opened at $35.73 on Friday. Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $33.33 and a fifty-two week high of $54.44. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $38.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $42.35. The company has a market cap of $5.64 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.64 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 8.82, a current ratio of 8.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Ionis Pharmaceuticals news, CEO Brett P. Monia sold 6,630 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.05, for a total transaction of $252,271.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 167,393 shares in the company, valued at $6,369,303.65. The trade was a 3.81 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Eric Swayze sold 1,194 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.92, for a total transaction of $45,276.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 33,713 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,278,396.96. This trade represents a 3.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,877 shares of company stock valued at $299,578 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 2.71% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on IONS shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from $82.00 to $77.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $70.00 target price on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Ionis Pharmaceuticals from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.65.

About Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc discovers and develops RNA-targeted therapeutics in the United States. The company offers SPINRAZA for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in pediatric and adult patients; TEGSEDI, an antisense injection for the treatment of polyneuropathy caused by hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in adults; and WAYLIVRA, an antisense medicine for treatment for familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) and familial partial lipodystrophy.