KalVista Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:KALV) Stock Price Up 8.7% Following Analyst Upgrade

KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALV) shot up 8.7% on Thursday after Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. The company traded as high as $18.82 and last traded at $18.6350. 837,871 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 16% from the average session volume of 1,000,371 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.14.

KALV has been the topic of a number of other reports. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. HC Wainwright increased their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $27.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 9th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Citizens Jmp lowered their price target on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $32.60.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Nicole Sweeny sold 3,975 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total value of $61,890.75. Following the transaction, the insider owned 47,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $731,836.71. This trade represents a 7.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Paul K. Audhya sold 5,354 shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total transaction of $83,361.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 138,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,163,965.31. The trade was a 3.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 33,378 shares of company stock valued at $522,290 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 4.30% of the company’s stock.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting KalVista Pharmaceuticals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Unusual bullish options flow: traders bought 5,072 call options (≈569% above the average of 758), suggesting speculative or hedged bullish positioning that can amplify near-term upside interest in the shares.
• Positive Sentiment: Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target to $42 and reiterated a “buy” rating — a large upside vs. the current level that often attracts renewed investor attention and buying. Stifel price target raise
• Positive Sentiment: Needham & Company increased its target to $36 and kept a “buy” rating, reinforcing analyst conviction from multiple firms. Needham target raise
• Positive Sentiment: EKTERLY commercial launch showing strong initial revenue: KalVista reported $49.1M in EKTERLY revenue during an eight-month transition period — a material commercial proof point that supports revenue growth expectations. EKTERLY revenue report
• Positive Sentiment: Stock hit a new 52-week high after analyst upgrades and increased coverage, a technical signal that can attract momentum buyers. 52-week high / analyst upgrade
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent earnings materials (Q1 2025 call summary and transcript) have been published — useful for revisiting guidance and management commentary but the market reaction depends on details and forward guidance. Q1 2025 earnings call summary
• Negative Sentiment: Citizens Jmp trimmed its price target slightly from $29 to $28 (still a “market outperform”), a modest downtick in one analyst’s view that could temper upside expectations if other firms follow. Citizens Jmp target change

Hedge Funds Weigh In On KalVista Pharmaceuticals

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Emerald Advisers LLC grew its stake in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 30.2% in the third quarter. Emerald Advisers LLC now owns 1,351,254 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $16,458,000 after purchasing an additional 313,205 shares during the last quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL bought a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $24,360,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $3,494,000. Blue Owl Capital Holdings LP purchased a new stake in KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,522,000. Finally, Stonepine Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 364.0% in the 2nd quarter. Stonepine Capital Management LLC now owns 100,000 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,130,000 after buying an additional 78,450 shares during the last quarter.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 2.0%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.18, a quick ratio of 7.21 and a current ratio of 7.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $990.08 million, a P/E ratio of -4.89 and a beta of -0.35. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $16.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.46.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

KalVista Pharmaceuticals is a clinical‐stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of small‐molecule protease inhibitors for orphan and specialty disease indications. The firm’s scientific platform centers on selective inhibition of plasma kallikrein, a serine protease implicated in disorders characterized by vascular leak, edema and inflammation. KalVista’s approach leverages oral and intravitreal delivery formats to target both systemic and ophthalmic conditions.

The company’s lead programs include an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor in clinical trials for the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks and an intravitreal kallikrein inhibitor being evaluated for diabetic macular edema.