Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACRS) Shares Acquired by HighTower Advisors LLC

HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACRS – Get Rating) by 229.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 192,424 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 134,071 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in Aclaris Therapeutics were worth $3,031,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can purchased a new position in Aclaris Therapeutics during the third quarter worth about $31,000. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in Aclaris Therapeutics by 41.4% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,406 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 704 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC increased its holdings in Aclaris Therapeutics by 163.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 9,050 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $126,000 after purchasing an additional 5,621 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in Aclaris Therapeutics by 30.1% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 9,759 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $154,000 after purchasing an additional 2,258 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amalgamated Bank increased its holdings in shares of Aclaris Therapeutics by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 10,453 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $165,000 after acquiring an additional 1,001 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.33% of the company’s stock.

Aclaris Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of ACRS stock opened at $8.18 on Monday. Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $5.77 and a fifty-two week high of $18.96. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $8.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.82. The firm has a market cap of $578.16 million, a P/E ratio of -5.68 and a beta of 0.51.

Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACRS – Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.42) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.44) by $0.02. The company had revenue of $2.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.75 million. Aclaris Therapeutics had a negative return on equity of 46.40% and a negative net margin of 312.32%. The firm’s revenue was up 66.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.31) EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.81 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $38.00 price target on shares of Aclaris Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. StockNews.com began coverage on Aclaris Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday. They set a “sell” rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Aclaris Therapeutics from $25.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. BTIG Research reduced their price target on Aclaris Therapeutics from $32.00 to $29.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, HC Wainwright reduced their price target on Aclaris Therapeutics from $50.00 to $43.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Aclaris Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $32.00.

Insider Activity at Aclaris Therapeutics

In related news, Director Neal Walker sold 29,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.37, for a total transaction of $358,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,285,188 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,897,775.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Neal Walker sold 29,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.37, for a total value of $358,730.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,285,188 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,897,775.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Douglas J. Manion purchased 6,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $7.74 per share, with a total value of $50,310.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 6,500 shares in the company, valued at $50,310. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 44,800 shares of company stock worth $554,096 in the last 90 days. 6.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Aclaris Therapeutics

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Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc operates as a dermatologist-led biopharmaceutical company, which engages in identifying, developing, and commercializing novel drugs to address the needs in medical and aesthetic dermatology and immunology. It operates through the Therapeutics and Contract Research segments.