April 28, 2021 5:23pm

It just might be for a portfolio

Pre-open indication performance: 8 HITs and 1 MISS <

Who is feeding your portfolio profits - I challenge the status quo to achieve what most believe is impossible: each week break down tactical ways to … earn!

RMi outlines the daily dose of facts and objectivity!


The Dow closed DOWN -164.55 points (-0.48%); the S&P closed DOWN -3.54 points (-0.08%) while the Nasdaq closed DOWN -39.19 points (-0.28%)

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes were sloppy as the Dow, Nasdaq and S&P each were down.

The small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 was the relative outperformer on Wednesday, rising about 0.1%.

Despite the improving economy, the Fed repeated the guidance it has used since December, saying it must see "substantial further progress" towards its inflation and employment goals before stepping back from its monthly bond purchases.

A note of sector anxiety, “A 7.2% drop in Amgen Inc weighed on the Dow after the biotech said its first-quarter sales and profit fell due to a 7% drop in its net drug prices and a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.” <Reuters>

 

Data docket: The Fed wrapped up its two-day policy meeting - keeps rates near zero. “With inflation running persistently below this longer-run goal, the Committee will aim to achieve inflation moderately above 2% for some time so that inflation averages 2% over time and longer‑term inflation expectations remain well anchored at 2%.”

 

RegMed/Stem/Cell and Gene therapy’s 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: progressions and regressions

  • Wednesday opened negative at 5/29, 1 flat and 1 acquired, flipped positive at the mid-day to 20/13, 1 flat and 1 acquired, closing positive at 20/12, 2 flats and 1 acquired;

 

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) pre-open: “running the liquidity relay, who will the cash pass to. Coming: Many data presentations at American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting in May “… https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/11886

 

Pre-open indication results:  7 HITs < Biostage (BSTG -$0.02 at $1.26 with 830 shares traded without the "pump and promote" - shares tumbled); Homology Medicine (FIXX +$0.08), CRISPR Indication (CRSP +$2.50), Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.30), Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.01), Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$0.43), Pluristem (PSTI +$0.07), Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR -$0.06)> and 1 MISS < Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$1.76),

 

There are clear winners and losers

Jumping with share pricing momentum:

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), Regenxbio (RGNX), Ultragenyx (RARE), Ionis pharmaceuticals (IONS) to name 5 of the 20 inclining of the 35 covered

Hammered in today’s market:

  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA), uniQure NV (QURE), Cellectis SA (CLLS), Fate Therapeutics (FATE), Vericel (VCEL) to name 5 of the 12 declining of the 35 covered

 

Key metrics:

  • Sector volume was LOW with 4 of the 20-upside having higher than the 3-month average volume with the volume of 1 of 12-downside having higher than the 3-month average volume;
  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.38% (PGEN) to +9.97% (BLCM) while the 12-downside ranges from -0.02% (GBT) to -5.70% (CLLS);

 

Wednesday’s (10 of 20) incliners:

  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP +$2.50 after Tuesday’s -$2.68 and Monday’s +$9.17);
  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$2.23 after Tuesday’s -$1.60 and Monday’s +$6.18);
  • Ultragenyx (RARE +$1.49 after Tuesday’s -$1.51 and Monday’s +$5.00);
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$0.89 after Tuesday’s -$0.66);
  • Chinook therapeutics (KDNY +$0.61 after Tuesday’s +$0.32);
  • bluebird bio (BLUE +$0.48 after Tuesday’s +$0.43);
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.39 after Tuesday’s +$0.41);
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.34);
  • Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM +$0.32);
  • Adverum Biotechnologies (ADVM +$0.30);

Wednesday’s (12 of 12) decliners:

  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA -$1.76 after Tuesday’s +$2.28 and Monday’s +$6.50);
  • Cellectis SA (CLLS -$1.14);
  • uniQure NV (QURE -$1.08 after Tuesday’s -$0.72 and Monday’s +2.67);
  • Vericel (VCEL -$0.46);
  • Fate Therapeutics (FATE -$0.43 after Tuesday’s +$0.51 and Monday’s +$5.67);
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT -$0.23 after Tuesday’s +$0.07 and Monday’s +$2.17);
  • Sage therapeutics (SAGE -$0.11 after Tuesday’s -$0.62 and Monday’s +$1.93);
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$0.09 after Tuesday’s -$0.71 and Monday’s -$0.16);
  • Voyager therapeutics (VYGR -$0.06);
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.05 after Tuesday’s +$0.01);
  • Biostage (-$0.02 after Tuesday’s +$0.18 – manipulated);
  • Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT -$0.01 after Tuesday’s -$2.06);

Closing: 2 flat – ReNeuron (RENE.L), Caladrius Biosciences (CLBS) and 1- Stemline Therapeutics (STML – acquired)

 

COVID-19 updates:

  • The United States is reporting an average of 2.7 million daily vaccinations over the past week, according to data from the CDC. More than 40% of Americans have received at least one shot, and that figure is roughly 54% for those age 18 and older.

Monday’s COVID Data Tracker <Million>:

  • Cases: 31,97 M
  • Death rate totaled 570,421 <Johns Hopkins University>
  • Vaccinations:  235 M

 

Stats:

The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology (IBB) and the SPDR S&P ETF (XBI) indicators:

  • Wednesday, the IBB closed down -0.70% and XBI closed up +0.24%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Wednesday was down -0.28 points or -1.59% at 17.28

Upside volume: low

  • Wednesday: 4 out of the 20-upside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

Downside volume: low

  • Wednesday: 1 out of the 12-downside had higher than the 3-month average volume;

Percentage (%) movement/range statistics: LOW % with limited pricing drops as upside maintains

  • Wednesday’s percentage (%) of the 20-upside were +0.38% (PGEN) to +9.97% (BLCM) while the 12-downside ranges from -0.02% (GBT) to -5.70% (CLLS);

 

April, the beginning of Q2/21:

Wednesday closed positive with 20 advancers, 12 decliners, 2 flats and 1 acquired

 

The BOTTOM LINE: I am tired of the gloom following boom sessions this month!

Valuations are “frothy” but, the bounce-backs make is many times worthy overall although the “sector picture” is mixed, on the whole reasonably balanced however, manageable.

However, I still believe a decline is inevitable and coming …!

To me, it’s a question of BUYERS and NOT electronic trading.

Earnings are taking center stage as to share pricing over the next weeks; there is a lot of anticipation of what's to come I don’t feel that many cell and gene therapy sector won’t beat any expectations.

Q1/21 earnings are being announced, MiMedx (MDXG) on Wednesday 4/28, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ANY) on Thursday, 4/29, Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO), Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE) and Sage Therapeutics (SAGE) on Tuesday, 5/4, AxoGen (AXGN) and Vericel (VCEL) on Wednesday, 5/5 and Athersys (ATHX) on Thursday, 5/6.

Sector momentum remains “fluid” and any pricing more uncertain as earnings’ season LPS (loss-per-share) declines induce more downside risks but, hopefully a few rebounds.

I’m STILL a “beware or the cautious man” whose focus has always been “warning analysis” … earnings’ season is NOT over … my advice, trim and skim any new highs if one can!”

My time frame of measurement is Friday to Friday and been proved right again, don’t get complacent …

 

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.