CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) Sees Strong Trading Volume – Here’s What Happened

CRISPR Therapeutics AG (NASDAQ:CRSP) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 1,938,333 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 5% from the previous session’s volume of 1,849,822 shares.The stock last traded at $51.2050 and had previously closed at $52.80.

CRISPR Therapeutics News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting CRISPR Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The offering was upsized to $550 million (from a previously announced $350M), which signals strong demand from institutional buyers and provides CRSP with a sizable cash infusion to fund its pipeline and commercialization efforts. The company estimates net proceeds of roughly $536.3M (or ~$585.2M if the option is fully exercised). CRISPR Therapeutics Prices Upsized Convertible Senior Notes Offering
• Positive Sentiment: The convertible structure can be less immediately dilutive than an equity raise and the initial conversion price (~$76.56/share) is about a 45% premium to the March 10 close, reducing the chance of near-term conversion-driven dilution unless the stock rallies. CRISPR Therapeutics AG Prices $550 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering Due 2031
• Neutral Sentiment: Key terms: $550M principal (plus $50M option), maturity March 1, 2031, effective coupon 1.125% (increased to 1.7308% to offset Swiss withholding), semiannual interest, initial conversion rate of 13.0617 shares per $1,000 principal (initial conversion price ≈ $76.56). Expected close March 16, 2026. CRISPR Therapeutics Prices Upsized Convertible Senior Notes Offering
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction has been negative: headlines and pre-market trading tied to the debt sale pushed the stock down as investors weigh dilution risk and financing needs. Elevated volume today underscores investor re-pricing. CRISPR Therapeutics shares drop after announcing convertible notes sale
• Negative Sentiment: The upsized debt raise could signal heavier reliance on financing and potential liquidity pressure; conversion or optional redemptions in the future would be dilutive if the stock moves above the conversion price. The effective coupon bump to offset Swiss withholding also raises the company’s financing cost slightly. CRISPR Therapeutics AG Prices $550 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering Due 2031
• Negative Sentiment: Recent disclosure of insider sales (multiple execs selling shares over the past 6 months) noted in media summaries may reinforce negative investor sentiment around timing of the capital raise. CRISPR Therapeutics AG Prices $550 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering Due 2031

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on CRISPR Therapeutics from $90.00 to $89.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics from $42.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 11th. Chardan Capital boosted their price target on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics from $74.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and set a $33.00 price objective on shares of CRISPR Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $64.24.

CRISPR Therapeutics Stock Down 3.8%

The company has a market cap of $4.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.79 and a beta of 1.72. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $54.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.39.

CRISPR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRSP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported ($1.37) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.15) by ($0.22). The company had revenue of $0.86 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.72 million. CRISPR Therapeutics had a negative net margin of 16,569.77% and a negative return on equity of 26.31%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 97.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($1.01) EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that CRISPR Therapeutics AG will post -5.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at CRISPR Therapeutics

In other CRISPR Therapeutics news, General Counsel James R. Kasinger sold 2,112 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.58, for a total transaction of $111,048.96. Following the transaction, the general counsel owned 85,115 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,475,346.70. This trade represents a 2.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Samarth Kulkarni sold 60,000 shares of CRISPR Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.23, for a total value of $3,613,800.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 134,201 shares in the company, valued at $8,082,926.23. This trade represents a 30.90% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 99,079 shares of company stock valued at $5,643,674 in the last 90 days. 4.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On CRISPR Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CRSP. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in CRISPR Therapeutics by 5.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 3,516 shares of the company’s stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 3.0% during the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 6,541 shares of the company’s stock worth $318,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the period. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of CRISPR Therapeutics by 3.0% during the second quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 6,973 shares of the company’s stock worth $339,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. increased its position in CRISPR Therapeutics by 71.4% in the 3rd quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. now owns 504 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares during the period. Finally, Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. increased its position in CRISPR Therapeutics by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ipswich Investment Management Co. Inc. now owns 25,198 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,633,000 after acquiring an additional 230 shares during the period. 69.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

CRISPR Therapeutics Company Profile

CRISPR Therapeutics AG is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of gene-editing therapies based on the CRISPR/Cas9 platform. The company applies its proprietary technology to modify genes in human cells, aiming to create durable treatments for a range of serious diseases. Its research and development efforts focus on both ex vivo and in vivo applications, enabling targeted correction or disruption of disease-causing genes.

Among its lead programs is CTX001, an ex vivo edited cell therapy designed to treat sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia in collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.