Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRCA) Short Interest Down 26.2% in December

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRCA) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 380,561 shares, a decline of 26.2% from the November 30th total of 515,613 shares. Approximately 5.2% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 275,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 275,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.4 days. Approximately 5.2% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 0.2%

VRCA opened at $8.28 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $132.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.50 and a beta of 1.48. Verrica Pharmaceuticals has a 52 week low of $3.28 and a 52 week high of $9.82. The business’s 50 day moving average is $5.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $5.80.

Verrica Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:VRCA) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 14th. The company reported $0.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.14) by $1.27. The business had revenue of $14.34 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.34 million. Equities analysts expect that Verrica Pharmaceuticals will post -1.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Verrica Pharmaceuticals

In other news, Director Paul B. Manning acquired 2,750,762 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $4.24 per share, with a total value of $11,663,230.88. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 3,348,372 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,197,097.28. This represents a 460.29% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, COO David Zawitz bought 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 25th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $4.24 per share, with a total value of $42,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief operating officer directly owned 21,000 shares in the company, valued at $89,040. This trade represents a 90.91% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Insiders bought a total of 4,236,346 shares of company stock worth $17,962,107 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 54.00% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Verrica Pharmaceuticals

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Verrica Pharmaceuticals by 347.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 143,818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $101,000 after acquiring an additional 111,678 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Verrica Pharmaceuticals by 127.9% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 99,505 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 55,852 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Verrica Pharmaceuticals by 64.8% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 74,388 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 29,256 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Verrica Pharmaceuticals by 306.7% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 58,711 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 44,275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in Verrica Pharmaceuticals by 23.3% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 139,055 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 26,308 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 42.45% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRCA has been the subject of several analyst reports. Brookline Capital Management upgraded shares of Verrica Pharmaceuticals from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $17.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, December 18th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Verrica Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $17.00 price objective on Verrica Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $17.00.

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of topical therapies for dermatological conditions. Its lead investigational product, VP-102, is a standardized formulation of cantharidin in a pre-measured applicator designed to treat molluscum contagiosum and common warts. Verrica’s approach emphasizes consistency of dosing and patient convenience, aiming to improve upon off‐label use of existing treatments.

Beyond VP-102, Verrica is advancing VP-103, a next‐generation topical candidate intended to optimize tolerability while maintaining efficacy against viral skin lesions.