Kodiak Sciences Inc (KOD) News & EventsKODKodiak Sciences Inc

Kodiak Sciences Short Interest Rises to 31.8%

Welcome to this week's installment of "The Short Interest Report" - The Fly's weekly recap of short interest trends among some of the most widely followed high-short-float stocks. Using the data from our partner, which utilizes the latest information from stock lenders to estimate short interest changes for thousands of publicly traded companies, this report will screen for some of biggest changes in short interest as a percentage of free float and days-to-cover ratios while also considering the short interest data on some of the more volatile and heavier-traded names of the week. Based on the availability of data from Ortex, the report tracks the trading period that covers prior Friday through Thursday of this week, excluding holidays. As a basis of comparison for stocks discussed below, the S&P 500 index was down 0.5%, the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.3%, the Russell 2000 index was down 1.0%, the Russell 2000 Growth ETFwas down 0.9% and the Russell 2000 Value ETFwas down 1.7% in the four-day trading session range through October 1.SHORT INTEREST GAINERSOrtex-reported short interest in Kodiak Sciencestracked in a 25%-27% range since mid-July and into the final week of September while the stock price languished below $50 per share. Kodiak shares spiked sharply early this week as the company announced that the primary endpoints were met for both Zenkuda and tabirafusp-ted in the Phase 3 DAYBREAK study in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration, and the Street also cheered the readout as a drug that could pose a competitive challenge to the market-share dominant Eylea wet-AMD flagship offering from Regeneron. The stock has tripled in the five-day period covered through Thursday, though short interest as a percentage of free float also increased from 27.1% to a record high of 31.8%, with traders positioning to fade some of the extreme gains.Ortex-reported short interest in Under Armourtracked in a 23%-28% range from mid-July through the first three weeks of September even as the stock price extended its post-earnings dive on August 7 below the $5 per share level. This week, bear turned more aggressive – potentially in anticipation of more cautious rebased guidance from athletic apparel / footwear bellwether Nikewhich reported its first quarter under a new CFO – with short position as a percentage of free float rising from 30.0% to 32.1% - the highest level since mid-July. Days to cover on the stock rose from 6.5 to 7.1 – on the cusp of multi-year high of 7.3 seen two months ago. The stock was up 3.1%, with atypical strength that ran counter to Nike's post-earnings decline, though shares are down nearly 40% from July highs and down over 5% year-to-date.Ortex-reported short interest in MiniMedhas been climbing steadily since mid-September as the stock price has continued to close its post-earnings gap higher on September 1, and this week, bearish positioning notched another record high. Shorts as a percentage of free float on the name jumped from 68.3% to 78.6%, days-to-cover rose from 11.7 to 12.5, while the stock slipped 4.1%. Shares of MiniMed are now trading close to their initial IPO levels below $20 after topping $24 per share following Q4 results.SHORT INTEREST DECLINERSOrtex-reported short interest in Lyfthad troughed at a 5-month low of 19% on August 31 just before the 20% sell-off in the stock over the first week of September sparked a renewed bearish appetite to send short interest to 22.5%. This week however, with shares seemingly finding support above $14, short interest as a percentage of free float turned south once again, sliding from that level to 21%. Days-to-cover on the name remained elevated at 7.1 vs. 7.0 prior however. Shares of Lyft are up 3% in the five-day period covered through Thursday, though the stock is still down 14% from its late-August highs and down 20% year-to-date.

Major Averages Decline as Oil Prices Come into Focus

The major averages had a down day to start the week, with oil prices in focus after President Donald Trump rejected conditions for a ceasefire presented by Iran. Meanwhile, Treasury yields continued to climb to multi-year highs amid expectations that higher energy prices could put further pressure on inflation and increase the likelihood of additional rate hikes.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Nvidiahas launched an agent safety platform following recent security incidents and authorized an additional $150B under its existing share repurchase programMongoDBCEO Chirantan Desai has left the company to take on the role as Meta'sEnterprise Platform OfficerBoeinghas discovered a glitch to the 737 MAX software that could cause its automated navigation feature to fail, WSJ reportsBrixmorand Everview Partners agreed to acquire Slate Grocery REITfor $2.34BJana Partners is pushing Fiservto more than double planned cost reductions, Reuters reports2. WALL STREET CALLS:Royal Caribbeanupgraded to Buy at both Deutsche Bank and BofARobloxdowngraded to Underperform at JefferiesPark Hotelsupgraded to Strong Buy from Market Perform at Raymond JamesPepsiCodowngraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche BankSweetgreenupgraded to Overweight at Wells Fargo3. AROUND THE WEB:The White House is weighing broader use of tax-exempt red-dyed diesel as an alternative to restricting exports, Reuters reportsTrump is expected to announce a $15B Mesabi Metallics steel factory in Iowa, Bloomberg saysAirbusand Leonardoare investigating a coatings defect affecting about 500 A321neo jets, Reuters reportsFugazi Research said in a new research report that the firm considers Greenland Energy'sstock "uninvestable" at "any price above zero"A EUR 10.3B bid by BASFfor Evonikhas been rejected as too low to warrant negotiations, setting up a potential takeover battle as Evonik pursues restructuring and divestitures amid broader consolidation in Europe's challenged chemicals industry, FT reports4. MOVERS:Kodiak Sciencessurged after announcing its Phase 3 DAYBREAK study met its primary endpointsBurford Capitalincreased after issuing comments related to the patent matter between Apple and TactionGE Aerospaceslipped after Bloomberg reported the FAA intends to delay certification of Boeing's 737 Max 10 aircraft as it reviews a potential issue with software developed by GE AerospaceGold Fieldsfell in New York after announcing its offer was rejected by Northern Star Resources boardNubankwas lower in New York after Bloomberg reported the company is in talks to acquire Monzo Bank for GBP8B-GBP10B5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Zymeworksprovided guidance for FY26NetSol Technologiesreported Q4 results, with EPS and revenue higher year-over-yearGray Mediaannounced its outlook for Q3Kandi Technologiesreported results for H1, with EPS and revenue higher year-over-yearVestisreaffirmed its guidance for FY26INDEXES:The Dow fell 347.11, or 0.67%, to 51,481.51, the Nasdaq lost 248.34, or 0.92%, to 26,820.38, and the S&P 500 declined 59.72, or 0.77%, to 7,683.69.

Kodiak Sciences Stock Rises 161.9% to $84.71

Kodiak Sciences is up 161.9%, or $52.36 to $84.71.