KalVista Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:KALV) Hits New 1-Year High on Analyst Upgrade

KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:KALV) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday after Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. The company traded as high as $19.27 and last traded at $18.95, with a volume of 2400756 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $17.14.

Several other research firms also recently commented on KALV. HC Wainwright boosted their price target on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $27.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Citizens Jmp reduced their price objective on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on KalVista Pharmaceuticals from $39.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $32.60.

Insider Activity

In other KalVista Pharmaceuticals news, CEO Benjamin L. Palleiko sold 10,034 shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total transaction of $156,229.38. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 442,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,895,688.31. The trade was a 2.22% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Brian Piekos sold 1,767 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.57, for a total value of $27,512.19. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 13,762 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $214,274.34. This represents a 11.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 248,009 shares of company stock valued at $4,213,467. Insiders own 4.30% of the company’s stock.

More KalVista Pharmaceuticals News

Here are the key news stories impacting KalVista Pharmaceuticals this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Unusual bullish options flow: traders bought 5,072 call options (≈569% above the average of 758), suggesting speculative or hedged bullish positioning that can amplify near-term upside interest in the shares.
• Positive Sentiment: Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target to $42 and reiterated a “buy” rating — a large upside vs. the current level that often attracts renewed investor attention and buying. Stifel price target raise
• Positive Sentiment: Needham & Company increased its target to $36 and kept a “buy” rating, reinforcing analyst conviction from multiple firms. Needham target raise
• Positive Sentiment: EKTERLY commercial launch showing strong initial revenue: KalVista reported $49.1M in EKTERLY revenue during an eight-month transition period — a material commercial proof point that supports revenue growth expectations. EKTERLY revenue report
• Positive Sentiment: Stock hit a new 52-week high after analyst upgrades and increased coverage, a technical signal that can attract momentum buyers. 52-week high / analyst upgrade
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent earnings materials (Q1 2025 call summary and transcript) have been published — useful for revisiting guidance and management commentary but the market reaction depends on details and forward guidance. Q1 2025 earnings call summary
• Negative Sentiment: Citizens Jmp trimmed its price target slightly from $29 to $28 (still a “market outperform”), a modest downtick in one analyst’s view that could temper upside expectations if other firms follow. Citizens Jmp target change

Institutional Investors Weigh In On KalVista Pharmaceuticals

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in KalVista Pharmaceuticals in the first quarter valued at approximately $646,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 13.7% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 24,325 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 2,939 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 339,936 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,923,000 after buying an additional 12,263 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 941,212 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $10,642,000 after buying an additional 25,971 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey boosted its holdings in shares of KalVista Pharmaceuticals by 26.8% in the 2nd quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 9,756 shares of the specialty pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 2,061 shares in the last quarter.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.18, a quick ratio of 7.21 and a current ratio of 7.22. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $16.04 and its 200 day moving average is $14.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $990.08 million, a PE ratio of -4.89 and a beta of -0.35.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

KalVista Pharmaceuticals is a clinical‐stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of small‐molecule protease inhibitors for orphan and specialty disease indications. The firm’s scientific platform centers on selective inhibition of plasma kallikrein, a serine protease implicated in disorders characterized by vascular leak, edema and inflammation. KalVista’s approach leverages oral and intravitreal delivery formats to target both systemic and ophthalmic conditions.

The company’s lead programs include an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor in clinical trials for the acute treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks and an intravitreal kallikrein inhibitor being evaluated for diabetic macular edema.