Arizona State Retirement System Expands Investment in QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS)

On March 15, 2025, it was reported that the Arizona State Retirement System has increased its holdings in QuantumScape Co. (NYSE:QS) by 2.3% during the fourth quarter of the previous year. According to the most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Arizona State Retirement System now owns a total of 111,364 shares of QuantumScape after acquiring an additional 2,483 shares during that quarter. The value of these holdings is estimated at $578,000.

Other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in QuantumScape. For instance, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake by 3.9% during the third quarter, increasing its total to 5,853,958 shares, which are now valued at $33,671,000 after purchasing an extra 218,743 shares. Additionally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake worth about $1,275,000 in the fourth quarter, while Weiss Asset Management LP also made a new investment valued at approximately $828,000 in the third quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. made a recent acquisition valued at roughly $386,000. Furthermore, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings by a significant 127.0% in the fourth quarter, now owning 204,630 shares valued at $1,062,000 after acquiring 114,504 shares. As a result, institutional investors collectively hold 29.87% of QuantumScape's stock.

Analyst Ratings and Projections

Recently, several analysts have provided updates on QuantumScape stock. Truist Financial recently lowered its target price for the shares from $7.00 to $6.00 and designated it with a "hold" rating in a research note dated February 14. Conversely, HSBC upgraded its rating from "reduce" to "hold," setting a target price of $5.30 for the company in a report released on November 19. Evercore ISI reaffirmed a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on February 25. One analyst has issued a sell rating, while six have rated it as a hold. According to MarketBeat, the consensus ratings result in an average rating of "Hold" with a target price around $6.06.

Performance of QuantumScape Shares

As of the last trading session, QuantumScape shares opened at $4.36. The stock has seen a 52-week low of $4.05 and a high of $9.52, with a current market capitalization of $2.38 billion. The company has a P/E ratio of -4.63 and a beta of 4.45. Furthermore, QuantumScape's quick ratio and current ratio both stand at 14.07, indicating strong liquidity, while its debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.03. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $5.04, and the 200-day moving average is $5.27.

In its latest quarterly earnings announcement on February 12, QuantumScape reported earnings of ($0.22) per share (EPS), which was slightly below the consensus estimate of ($0.21), by $0.01. Analysts forecast that QuantumScape will report an EPS of -0.82 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Trading Activity

Recent insider trading activity has also been notable. Michael O. McCarthy III, an insider, sold 76,315 shares on February 21 at an average price of $5.23, resulting in a total value of $399,127.45. Following this transaction, McCarthy now directly owns 1,010,523 shares, valued at approximately $5,285,035.29, reflecting a decrease of 7.02% in his stock position. Another insider, Mohit Singh, sold 97,305 shares on December 27 at an average price of $6.24, which totaled $607,183.20. Singh now holds 1,092,020 shares valued at around $6,814,204.80, a decrease of 8.18% in his ownership. Over the past three months, insiders have sold a total of 277,452 shares worth $1,542,942, with company insiders collectively owning 12.03% of QuantumScape's stock.

About QuantumScape

QuantumScape Corporation, founded in 2010 and headquartered in San Jose, California, is a research and development stage company focusing on creating and commercializing solid-state lithium-metal batteries specifically designed for electric vehicles and other uses.

Conclusion

The increase in holdings by the Arizona State Retirement System and the activity of other institutional investors suggest a sustained interest in QuantumScape, despite mixed reviews from analysts. Investors are encouraged to keep an eye on market trends and the developments within the company.

Arizona, Investment, Stocks