Short Interest in Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) Increases By 25.4%

Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 2,170,000 shares, a growth of 25.4% from the February 13th total of 1,730,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 262,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 8.3 days. Currently, 4.5% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Galapagos Trading Down 0.7 %

NASDAQ GLPG opened at $25.84 on Wednesday. Galapagos has a 12-month low of $22.36 and a 12-month high of $34.02. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $24.99 and its 200-day moving average is $27.07.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Galapagos from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $31.00 to $22.00 in a report on Friday, February 14th. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating on shares of Galapagos in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Galapagos from a “strong-buy” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Kepler Capital Markets downgraded shares of Galapagos from a “hold” rating to a “reduce” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Galapagos has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $26.75.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Galapagos

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in Galapagos during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Galapagos by 77.4% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,233 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 974 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in Galapagos by 5.9% during the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 25,852 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $711,000 after buying an additional 1,431 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Galapagos by 21.7% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,455 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $288,000 after buying an additional 1,866 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in Galapagos by 45.9% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 8,972 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 2,824 shares during the last quarter. 32.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Galapagos Company Profile

Galapagos NV, a biotechnology company, develops medicines focusing on oncology and immunology primarily in the United States and Europe. The company's pipeline products comprise GLPG3667 that has completed phase 1b trial; GLPG5101, a CD19 CAR-T product candidate manufactured at point-of-care, currently in Phase1/2 trial in relapsed/refractory non-hodgkin lymphoma; GLPG5201, a CD19 CAR-T product candidates manufactured at point-of-care, currently in phase 1/2 trial in replapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia; and GLPG5301, a BCMA CAR-T product candidate manufactured at point-of-care, currently in phase 1/2 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.