Vaxcyte, Inc. COO Sells Shares: An Insight into Market Movements

On March 3rd, Jim Wassil, the Chief Operating Officer of Vaxcyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCVX), conducted a noteworthy stock sale, liquidating 8,000 shares of the company. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.27 each, bringing the total value of the transaction to $586,160. Following this sale, Wassil retains a significant stake in the company, owning 154,931 shares which are valued at approximately $11,351,794.37. This recent sale marks a 4.91% reduction in Wassil's overall holdings.

Recent Selling Activity

In the days leading up to this transaction, Wassil was already active in the market. He sold another 8,000 shares on February 3rd at an average price of $86.22, totaling $689,760. Earlier on January 2nd, he also sold 8,000 shares at an average price of $83.66, which amounted to $669,280. These previous sales indicate a pattern of stock disposition that might be of interest to investors and market analysts alike.

Stock Performance Overview

As of the latest trading session, Vaxcyte shares experienced a decline of $0.92 to close at $72.10. The trading volume for the day was approximately 1,193,584 shares, higher than the average volume of 1,157,385. Currently, the company has a market capitalization of $9.28 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of -15.67, and a beta of 0.98. Over the past year, Vaxcyte’s stock has fluctuated between a low of $58.10 and a high of $121.06.

Quarterly Earnings Insights

On February 25th, Vaxcyte reported its quarterly earnings, posting a loss of ($1.02) earnings per share (EPS), which was better than the consensus estimates that projected a loss of ($1.16) EPS. Looking ahead, analysts forecast an EPS of -4.21 for the current fiscal year, indicating an ongoing focus on growth despite the losses.

Institutional Interest

Recent trading movements show that institutional investors continue to take an interest in Vaxcyte. For instance, Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake valued at about $28,000 during the last quarter. Other firms such as Smartleaf Asset Management LLC and National Bank of Canada FI also increased their positions in the company. Currently, institutional stakeholders hold a substantial 96.78% of Vaxcyte’s stock.

Analyst Ratings and Outlook

Several brokerage firms have taken a positive stance on Vaxcyte's future. Guggenheim recently reiterated a "buy" rating with a price target of $160.00, while Goldman Sachs assigned a buy rating with a target of $135.00. The overall consensus among analysts leans toward a "buy" rating, with an average price target of $147.50, indicating optimistic growth potential in the upcoming quarters.

About Vaxcyte, Inc.

Vaxcyte, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel protein vaccines aimed at preventing or treating bacterial infections. Its lead product candidate is VAX-24, a 24-valent investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine designed to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease. Other projects under development include vaccines targeting emerging bacterial strains and those addressing antibiotic resistance, showcasing the company's commitment to addressing significant health challenges.

Vaxcyte, Stock, Sale