Vera Therapeutics Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NASDAQ:VERA)
by Doug Wharley · The Cerbat GemVera Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VERA – Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock investors purchased 3,132 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 105% compared to the typical volume of 1,526 call options.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities analysts have weighed in on VERA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Vera Therapeutics from $76.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Vera Therapeutics from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Vera Therapeutics from $56.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Vera Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Wedbush restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $34.00 price objective on shares of Vera Therapeutics in a report on Monday, August 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $80.15.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Vera Therapeutics
Vera Therapeutics News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Vera Therapeutics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Strong Phase 3 efficacy supports full approval prospects. In the final 104-week ORIGIN 3 analysis, TRUTAKNA met all prespecified primary and secondary endpoints in 428 adults with primary IgA nephropathy. The drug stabilized kidney function, producing a 5.0 mL/min/1.73m² annualized eGFR advantage versus placebo and reducing the risk of composite kidney disease progression by 76%. Why Vera Therapeutics Stock Is Jumping on New Kidney Drug Trial Results
- Positive Sentiment: Regulatory milestone is approaching. Vera plans to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application to the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2026, seeking full approval based on the kidney-function and disease-progression data. Management indicated that approval could potentially arrive in 2027. Vera’s TRUTAKNA Shows Two-Year Kidney Protection
- Positive Sentiment: Early launch indicators are encouraging. TRUTAKNA generated more than 350 patient start forms during its first 10 weeks, with paid claims and initial payer policies supporting expectations for commercial adoption. Safety results were generally comparable to placebo, with similar overall adverse-event and infection rates. Vera Therapeutics Announces TRUTAKNA Results
- Neutral Sentiment: Options activity points to heightened trader interest. Investors purchased 3,132 call options, approximately 105% above the average daily call volume, indicating increased speculative attention but not guaranteeing further gains.
- Negative Sentiment: Investors remain focused on approval and safety risks. TRUTAKNA currently has accelerated approval based on proteinuria reduction, so continued approval depends on confirmation of clinical benefit. The drug also carries immunosuppression risks, including infections and injection-site reactions. The stock’s reversal after its initial advance suggests some investors may be locking in gains or awaiting additional regulatory and commercial proof. Why is Vera Therapeutics Stock Reversing Its Premarket Gains?
Vera Therapeutics Stock Down 2.5%
Shares of VERA stock traded down $0.84 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $33.21. 8,378,955 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,556,705. The firm has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a PE ratio of -5.66 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 10.92, a quick ratio of 10.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company’s 50 day moving average is $34.99 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.09. Vera Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $23.05 and a 1 year high of $56.05.
Vera Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VERA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($1.52) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.58) by $0.06. During the same period last year, the business earned ($1.20) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Vera Therapeutics will post -6.44 EPS for the current year.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Vera Therapeutics news, CEO Marshall Fordyce sold 46,250 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.30, for a total value of $1,956,375.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 151,994 shares in the company, valued at $6,429,346.20. This represents a 23.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 83,250 shares of company stock worth $3,307,800 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 15.90% of the company’s stock.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vera Therapeutics
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Optimize Financial Inc raised its position in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Optimize Financial Inc now owns 17,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $901,000 after buying an additional 256 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Vera Therapeutics by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 17,838 shares of the company’s stock worth $903,000 after acquiring an additional 424 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 12.3% during the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,813 shares of the company’s stock worth $507,000 after buying an additional 1,295 shares during the last quarter. ADAR1 Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Vera Therapeutics by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. ADAR1 Capital Management LLC now owns 16,033 shares of the company’s stock worth $645,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Vera Therapeutics by 16.8% in the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 12,938 shares of the company’s stock worth $655,000 after acquiring an additional 1,864 shares in the last quarter. 99.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Vera Therapeutics Company Profile
Vera Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for immune-mediated diseases. The company’s research is centered on therapies designed to address the underlying causes of autoimmune conditions rather than primarily managing their symptoms.
Vera’s leading product candidate is atacicept, an investigational biologic designed to inhibit two proteins involved in the survival and activity of antibody-producing immune cells, B-cell activating factor and a proliferation-inducing ligand.