Oruka Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ORKA) Stock Falls 7.4% – Here’s Why

Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ORKA)’s stock price was down 7.4% during trading on Wednesday. The stock traded as low as $88.38 and last traded at $87.5710. Approximately 436,560 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 1,093,720 shares. The stock had previously closed at $94.55.

Key Oruka Therapeutics News

Here are the key news stories impacting Oruka Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ORKA-001 delivered strong and durable psoriasis results. In the Phase 2a EVERLAST-A study, PASI 100 clearance increased to 71.4% and PASI 90 clearance reached 87.3% by Week 28, despite no additional dosing after Week 4. Placebo-crossover patients achieved similar response rates, and the company reported a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Data from Week 52 are expected in December 2026, with Week 16 EVERLAST-B results expected in the fourth quarter. Oruka Therapeutics Announces Positive Week 28 Data for ORKA-001
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain bullish. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating with a $165 price target, while HC Wainwright reiterated “buy” with a $120 target. These targets imply substantial upside from the reference price and may provide support for the stock. Oruka analyst ratings
• Neutral Sentiment: ORKA-002 clinical development continues. Oruka provided an update on its randomized, placebo-controlled study in hidradenitis suppurativa, giving investors another near-term clinical catalyst, although the available report did not provide headline efficacy results. ORKA-002 Trial Progress
• Negative Sentiment: Positive efficacy did not translate into a rally. Reports indicate the stock fell as investors focused on safety disclosures and may have expected even stronger results, despite the deepening Week 28 responses. ORKA Stock Down Despite Positive Week 28 Data

Analyst Ratings Changes

ORKA has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group raised their target price on Oruka Therapeutics from $100.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $180.00 target price on shares of Oruka Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of Oruka Therapeutics in a report on Thursday. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Oruka Therapeutics from a “sell (e+)” rating to a “sell (d-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $151.00 price objective on shares of Oruka Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Oruka Therapeutics currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $128.91.

Oruka Therapeutics Stock Performance

The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $96.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $75.69. The company has a market capitalization of $5.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.11 and a beta of -0.34.

Oruka Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ORKA) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.55) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.51) by ($0.04). Sell-side analysts anticipate that Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. will post -2.42 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Oruka Therapeutics

In related news, insider Joana Goncalves sold 7,947 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.38, for a total transaction of $734,143.86. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 31,771 shares in the company, valued at $2,935,004.98. This trade represents a 20.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, SVP Arjun Agarwal sold 533 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.75, for a total transaction of $51,034.75. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 14,219 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,361,469.25. The trade was a 3.61% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 122,950 shares of company stock valued at $11,528,806. Corporate insiders own 23.49% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Oruka Therapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Nykredit A S bought a new stake in shares of Oruka Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Oruka Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $91,000. Natural Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Oruka Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $202,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in Oruka Therapeutics in the fourth quarter valued at $67,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Oruka Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at $211,000. 56.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Oruka Therapeutics

Oruka Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ:ORKA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing long-acting monoclonal antibody therapies for immune-mediated diseases. The company’s research is focused on creating medicines that may allow less frequent dosing than existing biologic treatments.

Oruka’s initial development programs are aimed at inflammatory conditions, including psoriasis. Its pipeline includes engineered antibody candidates designed to target important immune pathways, including interleukin-23 and interleukin-17.