Fred Alger Management Reduces $12M in Ascendis Pharma A/S ($ASND)
Fred Alger Management cut its holding in Ascendis Pharma A/S by 13.4%, selling 47,213 shares.
Key Points
- Fred Alger Management reduced its stake in Ascendis Pharma A/S by 13.4%, selling 47,213 shares to hold 304,896 shares worth about $79.5 million as of the first quarter of 2026.
- Shares of Ascendis Pharma traded near $260.75 on Saturday, with a market cap of approximately $17.1 billion and a P/E ratio of 30.3.
- Insiders were active with recent purchases and sales, while analysts maintain a strong buy consensus with a mean target price of $291.15.
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Fred Alger Management recently trimmed its stake in Ascendis Pharma A/S (NasdaqGS: ASND), selling 47,213 shares. This move represents a 13.4% reduction in its holdings, leaving the fund with 304,896 shares valued at about $79.5 million as of the end of the first quarter of 2026. The changes were disclosed in a Form 13F filing with the SEC.
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What Changed in Fred Alger Management's Ascendis Pharma A/S Position
Fred Alger Management decreased its position in Ascendis Pharma A/S by 13.4%, selling 47,213 shares. The fund now holds 304,896 shares, down from 352,109 shares previously. The remaining stake is valued at approximately $79.5 million.
Other Institutional Activity in Ascendis Pharma A/S
Other institutional investors also adjusted their positions in Ascendis Pharma. T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. significantly increased its stake by 4,494,417 shares, ending with 6,162,042 shares valued at about $1.41 billion. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC reduced its holdings slightly by 48,611 shares, maintaining 5,062,500 shares worth around $1.16 billion. Westfield Capital Management Co LP cut its position by 372,256 shares, now holding 4,813,440 shares valued at $1.1 billion. FMR LLC also reduced its stake by 276,710 shares, leaving it with 3,876,601 shares worth roughly $886.7 million.
Ascendis Pharma A/S Stock Up 5.2%
Shares of Ascendis Pharma A/S traded near $260.75 on Saturday. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $17.1 billion and a P/E ratio of 30.3. The stock's 52-week range is between $160.86 and $271.89, with a 50-day moving average of $231.87 and a 200-day moving average of $218.91. Ascendis Pharma's current ratio stands at 0.996, with a quick ratio of 0.683 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 183.753.
$ASND stock price
Daily closing prices, year to date. Not investment advice.
Recent Earnings
For its most recent period, Ascendis Pharma reported revenue of $865.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of 1.44%. The company achieved a net margin of 57.3% and a return on equity of 3.3%. The next earnings report is expected on April 30, 2026.
Earnings drift grade
Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.
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Forward outlook
3 target raises vs 1 cuts.
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EPS & revenue
EPS missed estimates by 471.1%. Revenue missed estimates by 9.0%.
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Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 9 percent. Operating income missed by 8 percent.
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Pre-earnings setup
Bar was high, analysts already very bullish.
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Analyst signal
3 target raises, 1 target cut.
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Earnings quality
Gross margin up 8.7 points. Operating margin up 113.3 points. Negative free cash flow.
Earnings Call Summary
Ascendis reported first quarter revenue of about $251 million, down slightly from the $276 million consensus expected, but beat earnings expectations at $0.32 per share versus $0.21 expected. YORVIPATH contributed $197 million in revenue but was hit by about $15 million in one-time headwinds. YUVIWEL, their new hypochondroplasia treatment approved in February, saw about 60 children prescribed in just four to five weeks after launch, showing strong unmet need. The company is now profitable with a 22 percent non-IFRS operating margin and plans to give full-year guidance after the next quarter.
Guidance Management did not provide full year revenue or earnings guidance. Instead, they said they will give updated 2026 guidance after Q2 results. They expect strong sequential growth in YORVIPATH in Q2 after one-time disruptions reversed. YUVIWEL launch is tracking much stronger than hoped.
Underwhelming report. Mixed results that may lead to slightly lower expectations.
Insider Buying and Selling at Ascendis Pharma A/S
Recent insider activity at Ascendis Pharma includes several transactions. EVP & CFO Scott Thomas Smith purchased 100 shares at $219 on June 2, 2026, and an additional 250 shares at $223.32 on May 29, 2026. Jean Jacques Bienaime bought 500 shares at $223.12 on May 29, 2026, and 400 shares at $237.81 on May 26, 2026. EVP Flemming Steen Jensen sold 19,460 shares at $238.49 on May 11, 2026.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Analysts have recently updated their views on Ascendis Pharma. On May 19, 2026, Citigroup initiated coverage with a "buy" rating and a price target of $355. Evercore ISI Group maintained its "buy" rating with a target of $329 on May 15, 2026. Barclays also maintained a "buy" rating, setting a $345 price target on May 11, 2026. The consensus among analysts is a "strong buy," with an average target price of $291.15 based on 18 analyst opinions.
About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma A/S is a biopharmaceutical company based in Hellerup, Denmark. It focuses on developing therapies using its TransCon technology for unmet medical needs. The company markets SKYTROFA for pediatric growth hormone deficiency and YORVIPATH for chronic hypoparathyroidism. It also has a pipeline of endocrinology and oncology candidates. Ascendis Pharma was founded in 2006 and is led by CEO Jan Moller Mikkelsen.
Bottom Line
Fred Alger Management's decision to reduce its stake in Ascendis Pharma A/S reflects a notable shift in its investment strategy. Investors closely watch these 13F filings for insights into fund managers' views, though they represent past positions as of the reporting period. Ascendis Pharma remains a focal point for analysts and insiders, with a strong buy consensus and ongoing insider activity.
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