Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSTV) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSTV) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 11,356,718 shares, a growth of 54.9% from the December 31st total of 7,332,320 shares. Approximately 8.2% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 15,662,507 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 15,662,507 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Approximately 8.2% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on PSTV shares. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Plus Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $1.00 target price (down previously from $2.00) on shares of Plus Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Ascendiant Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Plus Therapeutics from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 21st. D. Boral Capital cut their price objective on Plus Therapeutics from $5.00 to $4.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Plus Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $6.75.

Plus Therapeutics Trading Down 6.9%

PSTV traded down $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $0.23. 10,319,404 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 18,515,686. Plus Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $0.16 and a 12-month high of $2.31. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $0.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.12 and a beta of 0.89.

Plus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PSTV) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.50 million. On average, equities analysts expect that Plus Therapeutics will post -2.3 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Plus Therapeutics

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in Plus Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth $46,000. Scientech Research LLC bought a new stake in Plus Therapeutics in the third quarter worth $100,000. Altium Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Plus Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth about $628,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in Plus Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $41,000. 3.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Plus Therapeutics

Plus Therapeutics is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of targeted radiotherapeutics for oncology. Its platform technologies leverage nanoliposomes and microspheres to deliver therapeutic radioisotopes directly to tumor sites. The company’s lead candidate, 90Y-HP-DO3A, is in Phase 2 development for recurrent high-grade gliomas, while its rhenium-based nanoliposome program is under investigation for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and brain metastases.

The pipeline also includes investigational treatments for bone metastases, malignant pleural effusions and other hard-to-treat solid tumors.