Traders Purchase Large Volume of Ocular Therapeutix Call Options (NASDAQ:OCUL)

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCUL) was the target of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Stock traders bought 3,324 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 15% compared to the average daily volume of 2,900 call options.

Key Ocular Therapeutix News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ocular Therapeutix this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Multiple reports say Sanofi is eyeing a bid for Ocular Therapeutix, fueling takeover speculation and upward pressure on the stock. BRIEF—Sanofi reportedly eyeing bid for Ocular Therapeutix
• Positive Sentiment: Additional outlets link Sanofi to a potential takeover approach, reinforcing the market narrative that a strategic buyer is interested. Sanofi linked to takeover bid for Ocular Therapeutix
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighting that takeover speculation “sent Ocular’s stock soaring” amplified momentum and trading volume as event-driven traders reacted. Speculation of Sanofi Takeover Sends Ocular’s Stock Soaring
• Positive Sentiment: Reports indicate Sanofi may ready a higher bid after an initial rejection, keeping the chance of an improved takeover offer on the table. Sanofi readies higher bid for Ocular Therapeutix after initial rejection – report Sanofi weighs improved bid for Ocular Therapeutix following board rejection
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity also showed increased call buying the prior day, consistent with some traders positioning for upside around the takeover chatter (smaller volume lift). (No external link)
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/market note reviewing OCUL’s valuation and recent mixed returns — useful context for investors assessing whether takeover premium or fundamentals justify current levels. Ocular Therapeutix (OCUL) Valuation Check After Mixed Recent Returns And AXPAXLI Expectations
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary noted a prior 6.1% jump and higher volume but warned that momentum may not be sustained absent a concrete deal or stronger fundamentals. Strength Seen in Ocular Therapeutix (OCUL)
• Negative Sentiment: Large surge in put buying (11,873 puts; ~287% above average) indicates some investors are hedging or betting on a near-term decline — this elevated bearish/options hedging activity could pressure the stock if sustained. (No external link)

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Citigroup reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Ocular Therapeutix in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Ocular Therapeutix from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, December 6th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on shares of Ocular Therapeutix from $17.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 3rd. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $20.00 price target on shares of Ocular Therapeutix in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Ocular Therapeutix in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $22.56.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ocular Therapeutix

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Ocular Therapeutix by 38.5% during the 3rd quarter. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,250,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $119,822,000 after acquiring an additional 2,850,000 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Ocular Therapeutix by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,163,240 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $107,118,000 after purchasing an additional 771,065 shares during the last quarter. TCG Crossover Management LLC raised its stake in Ocular Therapeutix by 15.0% during the 3rd quarter. TCG Crossover Management LLC now owns 6,117,232 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $71,510,000 after acquiring an additional 798,084 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in Ocular Therapeutix by 3,136.1% during the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 3,855,706 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $45,073,000 after buying an additional 3,736,560 shares during the period. Finally, Paradigm Biocapital Advisors LP raised its holdings in Ocular Therapeutix by 2.3% during the third quarter. Paradigm Biocapital Advisors LP now owns 3,497,307 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $40,884,000 after purchasing an additional 76,967 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.21% of the company’s stock.

Ocular Therapeutix Stock Performance

OCUL traded down $0.01 on Friday, hitting $11.27. 6,647,630 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,127,111. Ocular Therapeutix has a 12-month low of $5.78 and a 12-month high of $16.44. The company has a 50 day moving average of $12.32 and a 200-day moving average of $11.97. The company has a quick ratio of 7.78, a current ratio of 7.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.40 billion, a PE ratio of -7.83 and a beta of 0.93.

Ocular Therapeutix (NASDAQ:OCUL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.37) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.39) by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $14.54 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.57 million. Ocular Therapeutix had a negative net margin of 447.57% and a negative return on equity of 86.33%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Ocular Therapeutix will post -0.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Ocular Therapeutix Company Profile

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of innovative therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, the company focuses on sustained-release drug delivery platforms designed to address key unmet needs in ophthalmology. Its proprietary hydrogel-based inserts and sealants aim to improve patient compliance and outcomes by providing controlled release of active pharmaceutical ingredients directly to ocular tissues.

The company’s flagship product, DEXTENZA®, is a preservative-free, sustained-release dexamethasone intracanalicular insert approved by the U.S.