Galapagos (NASDAQ:GLPG) Sees Large Volume Increase – Should You Buy?

Shares of Galapagos NV (NASDAQ:GLPG) saw strong trading volume on Friday . 225,234 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 67% from the previous session’s volume of 134,623 shares.The stock last traded at $27.02 and had previously closed at $26.44.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GLPG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on Galapagos from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Raymond James cut shares of Galapagos from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Leerink Partners began coverage on shares of Galapagos in a research note on Monday, September 9th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $24.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Galapagos to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Galapagos currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $30.75.

Galapagos Trading Up 1.7 %

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $29.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $27.73.

Institutional Trading of Galapagos

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of GLPG. Headlands Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Galapagos by 949.3% in the first quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 787 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 712 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Galapagos by 140.7% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,259 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 736 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in Galapagos by 48.1% during the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,872 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 1,258 shares during the period. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Galapagos by 63.2% during the 3rd quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 3,899 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $112,000 after purchasing an additional 1,510 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in shares of Galapagos by 21.6% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,578 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $113,000 after purchasing an additional 814 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 32.46% of the company’s stock.

Galapagos Company Profile

Galapagos NV, a biotechnology company, develops medicines focusing on oncology and immunology primarily in the United States and Europe. The company's pipeline products comprise GLPG3667 that has completed phase 1b trial; GLPG5101, a CD19 CAR-T product candidate manufactured at point-of-care, currently in Phase1/2 trial in relapsed/refractory non-hodgkin lymphoma; GLPG5201, a CD19 CAR-T product candidates manufactured at point-of-care, currently in phase 1/2 trial in replapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia; and GLPG5301, a BCMA CAR-T product candidate manufactured at point-of-care, currently in phase 1/2 in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.