Barclays PLC Purchases 223,995 Shares of Arbutus Biopharma Co. (NASDAQ:ABUS)

Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Arbutus Biopharma Co. (NASDAQ:ABUS) by 466.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 272,029 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 223,995 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned 0.14% of Arbutus Biopharma worth $1,047,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABUS. Helen Stephens Group LLC bought a new stake in Arbutus Biopharma in the third quarter valued at $50,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Arbutus Biopharma during the 2nd quarter worth $53,000. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Arbutus Biopharma by 63.8% in the 3rd quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 36,309 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $140,000 after buying an additional 14,138 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Arbutus Biopharma during the third quarter worth $142,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in shares of Arbutus Biopharma by 453.1% during the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 37,503 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $144,000 after acquiring an additional 30,723 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 43.79% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on ABUS. Chardan Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a $5.00 price objective (up from $4.50) on shares of Arbutus Biopharma in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. JMP Securities boosted their price target on shares of Arbutus Biopharma to $5.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $5.00 price objective on shares of Arbutus Biopharma in a research note on Monday, November 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $5.50.

Arbutus Biopharma Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ABUS opened at $3.18 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $602.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.40 and a beta of 1.78. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $3.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $3.72. Arbutus Biopharma Co. has a fifty-two week low of $2.21 and a fifty-two week high of $4.72.

About Arbutus Biopharma

Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, develops novel therapeutics for chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the United States. Its HBV product pipeline consists of imdusiran (AB-729), a proprietary subcutaneously-delivered RNAi therapeutic product candidate that suppresses all HBV antigens, including HBsAg expression.