Insider Transactions at Twist Bioscience
Emily M. Leproust, Chief Executive Officer of Twist Bioscience Corp (NASDAQ:TWST), recently completed several transactions involving the sale of company common stock. These sales amounted to approximately $3.21 million and took place across May 26 and May 27, 2026. It is important to note that these dispositions were carried out under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
The timing of the sales was notable as the stock price was nearing its 52-week high of $66.94, following substantial appreciation of 127% over the preceding year. Analysis from InvestingPro suggested that at current market levels, the stock appeared to be overvalued relative to its calculated Fair Value.
Details of Stock Sales
On May 26, Ms. Leproust first acquired 24,282 shares of Twist Bioscience common stock by exercising employee options, with each option priced at $8.82 per share. She subsequently sold the entire block of 24,282 shares at a weighted average price of $65.0789 per share. The specific sale prices for this initial set of shares varied between $65.00 and $65.505.
The following day, May 27, further transactions were recorded. Ms. Leproust acquired an additional 25,017 shares through option exercises, also at the rate of $8.82 per share. Of this newly acquired stock, she sold 23,752 shares with a weighted average price of $65.2392 per share. The sale prices for this portion spanned from $65.00 to $65.93.
In addition to the first tranche of sales, another segment of 1,265 shares was sold on May 27 at a weighted average price of $66.2813 per share. The pricing range for these final shares was between $66.09 and $66.72.
In aggregate, across both days, Ms. Leproust exercised options to acquire 49,299 shares at a cumulative cost of $434,817. She then liquidated all 49,299 shares for a combined total value of $3,213,653. Following these transactions, her direct ownership stake in Twist Bioscience common stock was reported to stand at 846,872 shares.
Recent Financial Performance and Analyst Coverage
Separately, the company released its second-quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings report. The results indicated robust revenue growth, achieving total revenues of $111 million. This figure represents a 19% increase compared to the previous year and surpassed the consensus estimate of $108 million.
Despite the positive top-line performance, the reported Earnings Per Share (EPS) was -$0.71, which fell short of the forecasted negative earnings per share of -$0.48. These results prompted immediate reactions from investment analysts and increased management projections for the future.
Analyst Reactions and Future Guidance
Following the announcement, TD Cowen revised its price target for Twist Bioscience to $68, up from a previous level of $58. The firm maintained its Buy rating, citing the revenue beat as a primary factor supporting the increase in valuation. Similarly, Leerink elevated its price target to $80, an increase from $70, while retaining an Outperform rating subsequent to the company's Investor Day.
During the Investor Day event, Twist Bioscience management provided projections suggesting that total revenue is expected to reach approximately $1 billion by fiscal year 2031. This projection implies a compound annual growth rate exceeding 16%, reflecting a positive outlook from the company's leadership despite the recent shortfall in EPS.
Market Context
The stock continued its upward trajectory after the reported transactions, climbing to $69.03, which marked a 6% increase when compared to the sale prices executed by the CEO. The market data provided further context, showing the price had climbed to $69.70 in After Hours trading, representing a 0.97% gain.