March 14, 2023 4:52pm

The dramatic rush to the upside is marginalized by old uncle algorithms takes his cut

Pre-open indication Results: 7 Hits and 3 Miss

I write this blog/newsletter to inform investors with facts and supporting numbers focused on what they need to hear that others will not say or write about - truth!  

Subscription is coming, it is not conscription but, an offer to join our collective of like-minded investors!  Join me … in the NO spin zone.

If I have learned one thing as a former research analyst in a venture and public fund now a journalist; it is that your life and your portfolio are largely tied to your knowledge of price movements and questioning pricing targets.

 

The Dow closed UP +336.26 points (+1.06%); the S&P closed UP +64.80 points (+1.68%) while the Nasdaq closed UP +239.31 points (+2.14%)

 

Henry’omics:

We need to more than consider the economic environment - rising rates and inflation to comprehend the micro re “our” universe of cell and gene therapy companies …

Indexes rallied Tuesday as crucial inflation data came in line with expectations.

The Nasdaq climbed 1.5%, also cooling after nearing 2.5% higher at one point.

“The economic data comes at a critical moment in the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation, as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and the ongoing ramifications have added a new wrinkle.” <Yahoo Finance>

Economic Data Docket: February's Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed prices rose 6.0% in February over the last year, the smallest increase since September 2021, and in line with economist expectations. Meanwhile, core CPI, which strips out food and energy, grew 5.5%, also in-line with expectations.

  • The shelter component of CPI — which makes up about a third of the overall inflation index — rose 0.8% over the last month and 8.1% on a yearly basis in February.

 

Pre-open indication Results: 7 Hits <Sell into Strength: Beam Therapeutics (BEAM +$0.38), BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.80), Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.82), uniQure NV (QURE +$0.32), Vericel (VCEL +$1.25), CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$0.57), Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals (RARE -$0.32)> and 3 Miss <AxoGen (AXGN +$0.90), Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$0.68), Caribou Biosciences (CRBU -$0.13)>

52-week low:

·         Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) at $2.16

 

RegMed Investors (RMi) Research Note: Q4 and FY22 earnings reporting … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12843 - 22 of 35

RegMed Investors (RMi) Research Note: Upcoming Q4 earnings reporting dates … https://www.regmedinvestors.com/articles/12830

 

RegMed/Stem/Cell and Gene Therapy’s 35 covered equities’ Advance/Decline (A/D) lines: what happened – differences

  • Tuesday’s advance/decline line opened positive at 25 up/ 9 down and 1 flat, stayed positive at the mid-day with 21 up/ 12 down and 2 flats, at approximately at 2 p.m. a negative 15 down/ 18 up and 2 flats, ending with a positive close of 18/14 and 3 flats

 

Key Metrics:

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

  • Tuesday, the IBB was up +1.26% and the XBI was up +1.61%

The CBOE Volatility Index (VVIX: INDEX) tracked:

  • Tuesday was down -2.86 points or -10.78% at 23.66

 

Closing Down (10 of 14):

  • Prime Medicine (PRME -$0.65),
  • CRISPR Therapeutics (CRSP -$0.57 after Monday’s +$2.50)
  • Verve Therapeutics (VERV -$0.43 after Monday’s -$0.77),
  • Ultragenyx (RARE -$0.32 after Monday’s +$2.12),
  • Solid Biosciences (SLDB -$0.30),
  • Caribou Biosciences (CRBU -$0.13),
  • MiMedx (MDXG -$0.12),
  • Bellicum Pharmaceuticals (BLCM -$0.09),
  • Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO -$0.09 after Monday’s -$0.01).
  • Mesoblast (MESO -$0.03 after Monday’s -$0.09),

Flat (3)

  • Avrobio (AVRO)
  • Chinook Therapeutics (KDNY)
  • Editas Medicine (EDIT)

Closing Up (10 of 18):

  • Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY +$2.24 after Monday’s +$2.29),
  • Intellia Therapeutics (NTLA +$1.82 after Monday’s +$2.49),
  • Vericel (VCEL +$1.25),
  • AxoGen (AXGN +$0.90 after Monday’s -$0.05),
  • BioLife Solutions (BLFS +$0.80 after Monday’s +$1.27)
  • Sage Therapeutics (SAGE +$0.68 after Monday’s +$3.80),
  • Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR +$0.42),
  • Beam Therapeutics (BEAM +$0.38 after Monday’s +$1.62),
  • uniQure NV (QURE +$0.32),
  • Regenxbio (RGNX +$0.25),

 

Q1/23 – March

  • Tuesday closed positive with 18 incliner, 14 decliners and 3 flats
  • Monday closed positive with 27 incliner, 7 decliners and 1 flat

 

The BOTTOM LINE: I try to keep it simple … and short! From the sick bed, I came slowly today …

Cell and gene therapy sector CEOs and CFOs as well as employees (investors are screwed) continue to be glued to the latest headlines over the collapse of SVB Financial Group (SVB) moving their cash positions to multiple banks to be not dependent on one, two or even three banks.

Luck, luckier and welcomed by the government bail-out that many disagree with – yet protects the industry companies and specifically their payrolls.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department are investigating the closure of SVB and its officers – it has been reported. Also, what about Mary Daly’s supervisory bank examiners – missing the balance sheet and its investments …. she is the President and CEO of SF, Cal. Fed board of directors.

The list of grievances and misses will get longer but again, employees were saved and their payrolls!

Only ONE member of failed SVB's board had a career in investment banking - and the rest were Obama and Clinton mega-donors – this board should be next for the axe and investigation and legal actions without D&O insurance protections. Next question for review – their law firm and their overviews as counsel?

The sector’s WHIPLASH is NOT over!

The rush of Q4 and FY22 earnings to release is on … 23 of my 35 covered have reported.

·         Agenus (AGEN), AxoGen AXGN) and Verastem Oncology (VSTM) - today

Upcoming Q4 earnings reporting will present challenges to share pricing.

·         BioLife Solutions (BLFS) 3/16 - Thursday

 

WHY (?) do I keep posting, so investors can get a daily update of the sector's share pricing and some individual companies TRUTHS while electronic trading chews on our portfolio edges.

 

Remember, there are four (4) phases of the stock cycle: accumulation; markup; distribution; and markdown.

As I have stated, “What goes up with ceremony, goes down with disdain followed by the opposite effect.”

I am definitely considered a contrarian depending on the session – one has to be a watcher of the ups and downs as well as measurer of sentiment. I am also a NO trust investor but, a validate and verify journalist/analyst.

The NO spin zone!

 

Biostage (OTCQB: BSTG) – still pumping!!

Tuesday closed down -$0.02 with 5,105 shares traded after Monday’s +$0.26 with 10,1190 shares traded, Friday closed up +$0.31 after Thursday -$0.02 with 13,252 shares traded, Wednesday’s +$0.02 with 2,700 shares traded  and last Tuesday -$0.10 with 510 shares traded <3-month average volume = 1,591 shares>

·         Yet another CEO and chairman, Jerry He – what changes to the ill-fated story will ONLY be relieved by TRULY reviewing the past and communicating with those who have something to say – to right-size this company!

·         Question: Review the number of shares traded … is OTCQB: BSTG a Ponzi scheme (with their pump/promote buy and sell agenda) as shares are bought to replace those sold??

·         Let’s also welcome a NEW accounting firm – the fourth (4th) in five (5) years. When will they resign …??

·         Where is the SEC??

 

My question that resounds, that should be asked is how many companies are at the end of sentiments …  leash?

 

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.

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.