Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,220,000 shares, an increase of 43.2% from the October 31st total of 1,550,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,150,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 6.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Athira Pharma Price Performance

NASDAQ ATHA traded up $0.00 on Friday, hitting $0.66. 242,076 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,636,542. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $0.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1.86. Athira Pharma has a 52-week low of $0.41 and a 52-week high of $4.30. The company has a market capitalization of $25.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.23 and a beta of 2.82.

Athira Pharma (NASDAQ:ATHA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The company reported ($0.75) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.80) by $0.05. Equities analysts predict that Athira Pharma will post -2.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in Athira Pharma by 9.4% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 38,940 shares of the company’s stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 3,333 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in shares of Athira Pharma by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 271,488 shares of the company’s stock valued at $719,000 after buying an additional 9,164 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new position in Athira Pharma in the second quarter worth approximately $34,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Athira Pharma in the second quarter worth approximately $60,000. Finally, Forefront Analytics LLC raised its position in Athira Pharma by 126.0% during the second quarter. Forefront Analytics LLC now owns 46,595 shares of the company’s stock valued at $123,000 after acquiring an additional 25,979 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.12% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on ATHA shares. Mizuho lowered shares of Athira Pharma from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $5.00 to $0.50 in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Rodman & Renshaw cut Athira Pharma from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. JMP Securities lowered Athira Pharma from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, BTIG Research cut Athira Pharma from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th.

Athira Pharma Company Profile

Athira Pharma, Inc, a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing small molecules to restore neuronal health and slow neurodegradation. Its lead product candidate is Fosgonimeton (ATH-1017), a small molecule designed to modulate the neurotrophic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system and its receptor, MET, for a healthy nervous system that is in LIFT-AD Phase 2/3 and ACT-AD Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, as well as is in Phase 2 clinical trials to treat Parkinson's disease dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies.