Avidity Biosciences CEO sells over $1.4 million in company stock

In a recent transaction, Sarah Boyce, the President and CEO of Avidity Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:RNA), sold 32,880 shares of the company’s common stock at an average price of $44.00, amounting to a total value of $1,446,723. This sale was part of a planned transaction related to tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock units (RSUs).

The sale took place on September 23, 2024, and was executed as a “sell-to-cover” transaction mandated by the company’s equity incentive plans. This approach is used to cover tax withholding obligations that arise upon the vesting of performance-based RSUs. The shares sold had vested on September 19, 2024, following the achievement of a company performance objective, specifically the completion of a clinical event related to the drug del-brax.

The transactions were disclosed in a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the filing, the shares were sold at prices ranging from $44.00 to $44.02, with the weighted-average price being $44.0001 per share. Following this sale, Boyce’s direct ownership in the company stands at 234,663 shares.

Additionally, on September 19, 2024, Boyce received 62,500 shares of common stock related to the vesting of PSUs due to the achievement of the same performance objective. This added to her holdings, bringing her total to 297,163 shares before the aforementioned sale. Another set of 25,000 PSUs were also earned on September 19, which converted to time-based RSUs that will vest on March 19, 2025, contingent upon her continued employment with the company.

Investors often monitor insider transactions as they can provide insights into executives’ confidence in their company’s future prospects. However, in this case, the sale was not a discretionary trade but rather a required action under the company’s equity incentive plans.

In other recent news, Avidity Biosciences has announced a $250 million public offering of common stock, with an additional $37.5 million option for underwriters. The proceeds are earmarked for the advancement of research and development, including its Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates platform. Leerink Partners and TD Cowen are managing the offering, which is subject to market conditions.

In clinical developments, Avidity reported promising results from a Phase 1/2 trial for delpacibart zotadirsen, a potential treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The trial showed significant increases in dystrophin production and exon 44 skipping, along with a substantial reduction in creatine kinase levels.

Turning to analysts’ views, BofA Securities raised its price target from $40.00 to $45.00, maintaining a Buy rating on Avidity’s stock. Wells Fargo reaffirmed its Overweight rating, while Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage with an Overweight rating.

Finally, the company expanded its board of directors with the appointment of Simona Skerjanec, and received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA for its lead investigational drug, delpacibart etedesiran. These are the recent developments at Avidity Biosciences.

InvestingPro Insights

As investors evaluate the recent insider transactions at Avidity Biosciences, Inc., it’s important to consider the company’s financial health and market performance. According to InvestingPro data, Avidity Biosciences currently holds a market capitalization of $5.08 billion. Despite a robust year-to-date price total return of 380.66%, the company’s revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stands at $10.6 million, with a growth rate of 8.15%. This indicates a positive trajectory in revenue, which might be a contributing factor to the company’s stock performance.

However, it’s notable that Avidity Biosciences has been facing challenges with profitability. The company’s gross profit margin has been reported at -2082.31% for the same period, reflecting difficulties in converting revenues to gross profit. Additionally, the return on assets stands at -25.78%, suggesting that the company’s assets are not generating profits efficiently. These financial metrics provide a nuanced view of the company’s performance beyond the share price appreciation.

From the perspective of InvestingPro Tips, Avidity Biosciences is in a strong cash position, holding more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which can be a reassuring sign for investors concerned about the company’s financial stability. Moreover, 6 analysts have revised their earnings upwards for the upcoming period, indicating potential optimism about the company’s future financial performance.

For those seeking a deeper analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available for Avidity Biosciences at which could further inform investment decisions. As of the latest update, there are 11 InvestingPro Tips listed, offering a comprehensive look into the company’s financial and market potential.

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