HC Wainwright Expects Weaker Earnings for Zevra Therapeutics

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZVRA) – Equities researchers at HC Wainwright reduced their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Zevra Therapeutics in a note issued to investors on Thursday, March 13th. HC Wainwright analyst O. Livnat now anticipates that the company will earn ($0.32) per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of ($0.23). HC Wainwright currently has a “Buy” rating and a $20.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for Zevra Therapeutics’ current full-year earnings is ($1.95) per share. HC Wainwright also issued estimates for Zevra Therapeutics’ FY2026 earnings at $0.58 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $1.48 EPS, FY2028 earnings at $1.99 EPS and FY2029 earnings at $2.51 EPS.

Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on ZVRA. Citigroup reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Zevra Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Zevra Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Guggenheim increased their target price on Zevra Therapeutics from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on Zevra Therapeutics from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Zevra Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $22.14.

Zevra Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ZVRA opened at $8.31 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 2.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $7.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $8.16. Zevra Therapeutics has a 52 week low of $4.20 and a 52 week high of $9.76. The stock has a market cap of $449.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.22 and a beta of 1.98.

Zevra Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ZVRA) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 11th. The company reported ($0.67) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.39) by ($0.28). The firm had revenue of $12.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.93 million. Zevra Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 342.63% and a negative return on equity of 159.54%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Neil F. Mcfarlane sold 61,273 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.86, for a total transaction of $481,605.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 222,060 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,745,391.60. This represents a 21.63 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joshua Schafer sold 10,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.86, for a total transaction of $82,530.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,486 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $231,759.96. The trade was a 26.26 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 85,773 shares of company stock valued at $674,176 in the last quarter. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Zevra Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vestal Point Capital LP purchased a new position in Zevra Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,644,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Zevra Therapeutics by 14.2% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,043,864 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,246,000 after acquiring an additional 129,600 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in Zevra Therapeutics by 292.6% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 57,599 shares of the company’s stock valued at $399,000 after purchasing an additional 42,926 shares during the last quarter. Propel Bio Management LLC acquired a new stake in Zevra Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,248,000. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in Zevra Therapeutics by 282,687.5% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,313,202 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,054,000 after purchasing an additional 2,312,384 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 35.03% of the company’s stock.

About Zevra Therapeutics

Zevra Therapeutics, Inc discovers and develops various proprietary prodrugs to treat serious medical conditions in the United States. The company develops its products through Ligand Activated Therapy platform. Its lead product candidate is KP1077, consisting of KP1077IH, which is under Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of idiopathic hypersomnia, and KP1077N, which is under Phase ½ clinical trial to treat narcolepsy.