October 19, 2022 7:58am

Coming correction, infection and sentiment disaffection as earnings LPS (loss-per-share) season is about to begin

Indications: 2 Favorites & BUYs, 2 Sell into Strength, 2 Positive Indications, 3 Negative Indication and 1 Pump/Promote (BSTG – the usual suspect)

My daily prognostication of the morning’s numbers is written to be informative; it’s built on what happened or will happen behind the headline today, not tomorrow or yesterday

Why do I keep writing this blog/newsletter to inform investors, what they need to hear that others won’t say or write!

8:00 a.m. edition

 


Remember that overnight and pre-open actions in futures don't necessarily translate into actual trading in the coming day’s session.

 

Dow futures are DOWN -0.29% or (-90 points), S&P futures are DOWN -0.36% or (-13 points) and NASDAQ futures are DOWN -0.34% or (-37 points) early in the pre-open – so far,

 

Stock futures give up earlier gains, turn negative on Wednesday,

European markets were slightly lower

Asia Pacific markets were mixed as Chinese indexes dumped,

 

Henry’omics:

Indexes rose for a second straight session on Tuesday helping extend a rally to start the week. The Dow closed UP +341.27 points (+1.13%), the S&P closed UP +42.38 points (+1.15%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +96.60 points (+0.90%)

Economic Data Docket: housing starts, the Federal Reserve’s so-called Beige Book, the central bank’s report on the current state of economic conditions

 

RegMed Investors’ (RMi) closing bell: “a choppy sector session. How many lanterns were signaling algorithms and electronic trading buy and sells?” https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12655

Ebb and flow:

Q4 – 1 neutral, 7 positive and 5 negative closes

Q3/22 –

·         September – 1 holiday, 10 positive and 11 negative closes

·         August – 1 neutral, 11 positive and 11 negative closes

·         July - 1 holiday, 10 negative and 10 positive closes

 

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

My Favorites: BUY

Agenus (AGEN) closed up +$0.04 to $2.72 after Monday’s +$0.24 with a negative -$0.01 or -0.37% pre-open indication,

Solid Biosciences (SLDB) closed up =$0.0073 to $0.47 after Monday’s +$0.0064 with a negative -$0.02 or +4.26% pre-open indication. Sharpen your pencil – new investment and management coming from Bain funds,

 

Negative Indications;

Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) closed down -$0.32 to $46.20 after Monday’s +$0.16 and Friday’s +$0.69 with a negative -$1.47 or -3.18% pre-open indication,

Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA) closed up +$0.54 to $55.11 after Monday’s +$2.20 after Friday’s -$2.74 with a negative -0.67 or -1.22% pre-open indication,

CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP) closed up +$0.57 to $56.90 after Monday’s +$2.26 to $56.33 and Friday’s -$3.99 with a negative -$0.60 or -1.05% pre-open indication,

 

Positive Indication:

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY) closed down -$1.04 to $194.05 after Monday’s +$9.56, Friday’s -$6.23, Thursday’s +$6.65 last Wednesday’s -$1.57 following the previous Tuesday’s -$0.14 and Monday’s +$8.99 with a positive +$5.13 or +2.64% pre-open indication,

Ultragenyx (RARE) closed up +$1.15 to $39.45 after Monday’s +$1.24, Friday’s -$2.59, Thursday’s +$1.18 and last Wednesday’s +$1.01 following the previous Tuesday’s +$0.27 and Monday’s -$0.74 with a positive +$1.97 or +4.99% pre-open indication.

 

Sell into Strength:

Fate Therapeutics (FATE) closed up +$0.56 to $21.64 after Monday’s +$0.72, Friday’s -$1.09 with a positive +$0.36 or +1.65 pre-open indication,

Verve Therapeutics (VERV) closed up +$0.60 to $32.96 after Monday’s +$1.80, Friday’s -$2.01, Thursday’s -$0.06 last Wednesday’s +$0.82 following the previous Tuesday’s-$0.08 and Monday’s -$1.61 with a positive +$0.04 or +0.12% pre-open indication,

 

Puff/Pump and Promote: Maintaining SELL

Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) closed up +$0.28 with 1,010 shares traded after Monday’s +$0.92 with 3,006 shares traded, Friday’s -$1.06 with 1,401 shares traded, Thursday’s +$0.06 with 1,400 shares traded and last Wednesday’s +$0.05 with 2,100 shares traded following the previous Tuesday’s -$0.10 with 5,600 shares traded and the previous Monday’s -$0.10 with 2,700 shares traded, <3-month average = 2,131 shares>,

Questions need to be answered and they NEVER are for shareholders; as the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does guarantee the “freedom of speech, or of the press” … but I guess NOT to respond?

  • Who, WHAT and WHERE are pumping and promoting the “spikes” in volume and share price … coming from?
  • What is DST Capital?  Is DST Capital really managed by Mrs. bin Zhao of Weston, Mass and Hong Yu, president of BSTG?  Is LIU Dong-hai chairman of D. Phone, one of the largest smartphone retailers in China and Dixintong Technology group; the ultimate funder of DST Capital?
  • Are Chinese communist bureaucrats from Beijing, China directing the company’s activities with BSTG being their corporate “concubine”?

 

The BOTTOM LINE: Reiterating, “It is difficult to predict where the cell and gene therapy sector is headed in the short run.”

Reiterating, “I try to keep it simple … and short …

The sector is what it is, until it isn’t and even then, it doesn’t seem to be… as NOT much changes as the sector’s share pricing rides the waves of volatility, algorithms, electronic trading and short covering.

In “our’ universe of cell and gene therapy, we are betting on the hope for a cure or a treatment but, we are dependent on the management team to represent our hopes and aspirations. 

Reiterating, “I believe the sector is showing mixed signals, some BUYs more SELLs – yet I also believe we should BUY Agenus (AGEN) and Solid Biosciences (SLDB).

DISPOSE Avrobio (AVRO) who experiences news and the stock drops after a de-listing notice while the management DID NOTHING to AVOID this dilemma while president, CEO and director Geoff Mackay carries home a HUGE salary of $754.39 K per year?

•             AVRO closed up +$0.07 with news of Granted ILAP Designation from U.K. MHRA for gene therapy potential treatment for Gaucher Disease after Monday’s +$0.02 to $0.60 which does NOT get close to the $1.00 up-listing amount.

•             Will AVRO have to “commission" a stock reverse to address its delisting?

Amid the ongoing cell and gene therapy sector volatility, “our” universe’s trend remains " in correction." That means that investors are safer on the sidelines as again … earnings are coming.

WHY can’t Applied Genetic Technologies get out from under the “boulder” of share pricing compression – ask Sue Washer, CEO … she has NEVER had the right answers for the past two (2) years, time for a management change as AGTC traded at $0.245 after Monday’s $0.24 and Friday’s $0.25 while she pockets almost $800 K a year!!

There is STILL many a concern of sentiment and conviction in the cell and gene therapy sector”.

I STILL believe the sector is headed into “correction” which means that investors should remain cautious.

If you have gains, you might want to lock-in profit if any … before earnings season begins!

The final Q4 is HERE … and then back to earnings season which could be a minefield!

Earnings reports may/will cause many of the sector’s t moves in stocks!

As I continually write, “The real question that should be asked is how many companies are at the end of sentiments …  leash?

Start by looking at cell and gene therapy companies trading below cash!” 

When it comes time to invest or even hold onto an investment; I’d say … focus on what percentage ownership of stock … NOT options CEOs and management teams own versus their salary and bonus.

As I have written, “I devote a lot of time to the direction of the sector to reckon the geography of my coverage group.” That doesn't mean you should flee entirely to cash, but investors make sure gains don't evaporate thus … be quick to IDENTIFY the coming “losing” positions.

Whether information or intelligence is good, bad or somewhere in between; RMi’s daily report is a primer that may say little or a lot; yet it serves as insurance that all indications are being examined and evaluated.

 

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.

All investments are subject to risks. Investors should consider investment objectives.

Regulation Analyst Certification (Reg AC): The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this report certifies the following under Reg AC: I hereby certify that all views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject company or companies and its or their securities. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

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