February 3, 2021 7:57am

Until profiteering sets-in … and shrivels

Pre-open indication: 7 SELLs and 5 BUYs

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Dow futures are UP +0.03% (+8 points), S&P futures are UP +0.34% (+13 points) and NASDAQ futures are UP +0.62% (+84 points)

 

U.S. stock futures are fluctuating on Wednesday, after another market rally,

European stocks gain as earnings dominate investor focus,

Asia-Pacific stocks were mixed as a private survey showed China’s services sector activity growth slowing sharply in January; everywhere else, major markets in Asia-Pacific saw gains.

 

Data Docket: ADP private payroll data from January. Economists are expecting private sector jobs grew by 50,000 in January, compared to the loss of 123,000 in December.

 

Henry’omics:

Stocks are rallying AGAIN on Wednesday’s after Tuesday solid “run”.

Bringing color to the session, earnings season ramps-up with AbbVie, Biogen, Boston Scientific, GlaxoSmithKline and Humana reporting before the opening bell.

 

A positive note: The U.K.’s decision to delay the second shot of the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford coronavirus vaccine has been found to be an effective strategy, according to a new study. Oxford researchers found that the COVID-19 vaccine was 76% effective at preventing symptomatic infection for three months after a single dose, and in fact that the efficacy rate rose with a longer interval between the first and second doses. A delay in the second dose means more people can get their first vaccines sooner because it eases a tight supply. <CNBC>

 

Tuesday’s evening’s recap: “sector’s staying in the upside. However, multiple highs will loosen the share pricing ownership strings” … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11751

  • The Nasdaq closed UP +209.38 points (+1.56%);
  • The IBB closed up +1.11% and XBI closed up +2.27%
  • Sector volume was LOW with 10 of the 25-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the increased volume of 2 of 7-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) was up -4.68 points or -15.48% at 25.56;
  • Tuesday’s percentage (%) of the 25-upside were +0.08% (GBT) to +9.93% (NTLA) while the 7-downside ranges from -0.47% (BLCM) to-12.47% (PSTI);

February: 2 positive closes

January: 10 positive, 9 negative closes and 1 holiday, so far

 

Companies in my headlights – It’s your decision; I provide an idea and context:

Maintaining Sell:

Biostage (BSTG) closed flat at $1.93 with 205 shares traded after Monday’s +$0.13 to $1.93 with 1,211 shares traded, Friday’s -$0.06 to $1.80 with 7,338 shares traded, Thursday’s +$0.06 to $1.86 with 15,597 shares traded, Wednesday’s $1.80 with 2,300 shares traded and last Tuesday’s $1.80 with 2,500 shares traded.

  • Question#1: Volume of shares traded without any news for months and quarters does NOT correlate; does it reflect desperation of DST Capital or its cohorts that is pumping the share volume for pricing in an attempt to exercise the outstanding warrants?
  • Question#2: WHO is responsible for the dying trajectory of the approved IND’s initiation of a clinical trial; isn’t it - William (Bill) Fodor – CSO (chief scientific officer)? Is it not CSO Fodor’s responsibility to advance the science – are there problems you haven’t told the public shareholders and WHERE is the BLAME due?
  • Question#3: WHY is TRANSPARENCY such a major issue for BSTG’s lack of communication to public shareholders?
  • Question#4: WHEN does the clinical trial initiate or is there yet, another payment issue with a CRO as the last one (BBA) refused to file the IND unless paid?

 

Sell after news of RDO financing:

Pluristem (PSTI) closed down -$0.93 to $6.53 with a negative -$0.49 or 7.08% pre-market indication after pricing an offering at $6.30;

 

SELL into Strength:

AxoGen (AXGN) closed up +$0.83 to $18.50 after Monday’s $17.67, Friday’s $17.35, Thursday’s $17.89 and last Wednesday’s $17.18 with a positive +$0.43 or +2.32% aftermarket indication;

Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed up +$4.33 to $97.49 after Monday’s +$2.53 to $93.16 with a positive +$2.51 or =2.57% aftermarket indication;

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) closed up +$2.25 to $61.22 after Monday’s -$1.10 to $58.97, Friday’s -$0.62 to $60.07, Thursday’s $60.69 and last Wednesday’s $59.19, with a positive +$0.70 or +1.14% aftermarket indication;

Vericel (VCEL) closed up +$0.70 to $45.07 after Monday’s +$3.10 to $44.37, Friday’s $41.27, Thursday’s $41.10 and last Wednesday’s $40.15 with a positive +$0.91 or +2.02% aftermarket indication. I might be wrong but, I SMELL a public offering (outstanding shares of 45.34 and a float of 41.04 M shares, a 52-week change of +160.235 and a 52-week low of $6.78 with a high of $44.84);

Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR) closed up +$0.50 to $8.00 after Tuesday’s $t.50 and Monday’s $7.55 with a negative -$1.00 or -12.50% pre-market indication on news of Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) provided notice of termination of the Parkinson’s disease portion of the collaboration agreement, effective August 2, 2021;

 

BUY:

Applied Genetic Technologies (AGTC) closed up +$0.06 to $4.01 after Monday’s $3.95, Friday’s $3.94, Thursday’s $3.94 and last Wednesday’s $4.45 with a positive +$0.26 or +6.48% pre-market indication. A completed offering priced at $4.45;

Homology Medicine (FIXX) closed up +$0.59 to $13.04 after Monday’s +$0.30 to $12.45, Friday’s -$0.29 to $12.15, Thursday’s -$0.03 to $12.44 and last Wednesday’s -$0.57 to $12.47 with a positive +$0.21 or +1.61% aftermarket indication;

 

BUY from SELL:

bluebird bio (BLUE) closed up +$0.67 to $46.41 after Monday’s +$1.19 to $45.74, Friday’s -$0.45 to $44.55, Thursday’s -$1.77 to $45.00 after last Wednesday’s $46.77 with a positive +$0.47 or +1.01% aftermarket indication;

 

BUY:

CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) closed up +$2.47 to $168.17 after Monday’s -$0.02 to $165.68, Friday’s $165.68, Thursday’s $167.42 and last Wednesday’s $163.95 with a positive +$3.72 or +2.21% pre-market indication;

 

Maintaining BUY:

Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT) closed up +$0.04 to $49.53 after Monday’s -$0.63 to $49.49, Friday’s +$1.78 to $50.12, Thursday’s -$2.46 to $48.34 and last Wednesday’s +$3.31 to $50.80 with a positive +$0.96 or +1.94% pre-market indication;

 

The BOTTOM LINE: Investors are also monitoring negotiations in Washington surrounding another stimulus package. President Biden met with the 10 Republican senators on Monday to discuss an alternative, smaller aid proposal to his $1.9 trillion package which, I believe he will ignore?

Reiterating, “There is STILL a short-term tone in the sector – “our’ universe of RegMed, stem, cell and gene therapy equities.”

Again, “forewarned … earnings LPS (los-per-share) season is coming quickly – my advice, trim and skim!”

 

Opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change, and not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, nor investment advice.

Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; I put into context what is relevant and useful for investors.  All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.

Henry McCusker, the editor and publisher of RegMed Investors does not hold or have positions in securities referred to in this publication.