Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATHA) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,650,000 shares, an increase of 66.2% from the August 31st total of 992,900 shares. Currently, 4.7% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 714,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Athira Pharma

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Athira Pharma by 9.4% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 38,940 shares of the company’s stock valued at $103,000 after purchasing an additional 3,333 shares during the last quarter. Forefront Analytics LLC grew its position in Athira Pharma by 43.0% in the 4th quarter. Forefront Analytics LLC now owns 29,765 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 8,955 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted 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 worth $719,000 after acquiring an additional 9,164 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Athira Pharma in the second quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Mirador Capital Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of Athira Pharma during the first quarter worth about $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.12% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Athira Pharma Price Performance

Shares of ATHA traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $0.44. 423,479 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 454,378. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $2.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.08 million, a PE ratio of -0.15 and a beta of 2.90. Athira Pharma has a 52-week low of $0.41 and a 52-week high of $4.30.

Athira Pharma (NASDAQ:ATHA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported ($0.70) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.75) by $0.05. Equities research analysts predict that Athira Pharma will post -2.57 earnings per share for the current year.

About Athira Pharma

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.