Short Interest in Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTYX) Grows By 19.8%

Ventyx Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTYX) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 7,294,699 shares, an increase of 19.8% from the December 15th total of 6,089,007 shares. Currently, 12.5% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 1,050,759 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.9 days. Based on an average daily volume of 1,050,759 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.9 days. Currently, 12.5% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Ventyx Biosciences Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NASDAQ VTYX opened at $13.89 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $991.19 million, a PE ratio of -9.26 and a beta of 1.23. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $9.79 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.73. Ventyx Biosciences has a 12-month low of $0.78 and a 12-month high of $25.00.

Ventyx Biosciences (NASDAQ:VTYX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported ($0.32) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.45) by $0.13. On average, equities analysts predict that Ventyx Biosciences will post -2.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on VTYX shares. Lifesci Capital restated a “market perform” rating and set a $14.00 price target on shares of Ventyx Biosciences in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $14.00 target price on shares of Ventyx Biosciences in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Oppenheimer cut shares of Ventyx Biosciences from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Ventyx Biosciences in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright downgraded Ventyx Biosciences from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $14.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ventyx Biosciences has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $14.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider John Nuss sold 12,675 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.72, for a total transaction of $97,851.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 489,481 shares in the company, valued at $3,778,793.32. This trade represents a 2.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Raju Mohan sold 47,345 shares of Ventyx Biosciences stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.72, for a total value of $365,503.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 2,372,863 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,318,502.36. This represents a 1.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 14.49% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CWM LLC grew its stake in Ventyx Biosciences by 7.6% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 57,145 shares of the company’s stock valued at $122,000 after acquiring an additional 4,057 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ventyx Biosciences by 21.1% in the 2nd quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 29,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 5,174 shares in the last quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC grew its position in Ventyx Biosciences by 35.0% in the 3rd quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 21,200 shares of the company’s stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 5,500 shares during the period. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Ventyx Biosciences in the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Persistent Asset Partners Ltd bought a new stake in Ventyx Biosciences during the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. Institutional investors own 97.88% of the company’s stock.

About Ventyx Biosciences

Ventyx Biosciences, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, develops small molecule product candidates to address a range of inflammatory diseases. The company’s lead clinical product candidate is VTX958, a selective allosteric tyrosine kinase type 2 inhibitor for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. It is also developing VTX002, a sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor modulator that is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of ulcerative colitis; and VTX2735, a peripheral-targeted NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome inhibitor to treat patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome.