Insider Trading March 4, 2026

Ligand Director Disposes $93.6K in Shares as Stock Trades Near Yearly High

John W. Kozarich sold 467 shares under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan as Ligand posts stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results

By Nina Shah LGND
Ligand Director Disposes $93.6K in Shares as Stock Trades Near Yearly High
LGND

A member of Ligand Pharmaceuticals' board executed a series of sales totaling 467 shares on March 2, 2026, generating $93,632. The transactions were carried out under a written 10b5-1 trading plan adopted in March 2025. The stock has since risen to $208.95, close to its 52-week peak, while the company reported quarterly and full-year results that beat analyst estimates and prompted modest analyst price-target adjustments.

Key Points

  • Ligand director John W. Kozarich sold 467 shares on March 2, 2026, totaling $93,632, executed under a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted March 7, 2025.
  • After the sale, Kozarich retains direct ownership of 42,720 shares; the stock has risen to $208.95, near its 52-week high of $212.49 following an 81% one-year gain.
  • Ligand beat fourth-quarter 2025 EPS and revenue estimates and reported full-year revenue of $268 million and adjusted EPS of $8.13; analysts' price targets sit between $220 and $277.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc director John W. Kozarich sold 467 shares of the company's common stock on March 2, 2026, a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows.

The transactions were executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $197.1397 to $203.57, producing an aggregate transaction value of $93,632. The filing notes that after these sales Kozarich retains direct ownership of 42,720 shares of Ligand common stock.

The filing also states the sales were performed pursuant to a written trading plan Kozarich adopted on March 7, 2025, in accordance with Rule 10b5-1. That framework is commonly used by insiders to schedule trades in advance.

Shares have since climbed to $208.95, trading near a 52-week high of $212.49, after the stock rose about 81% over the past year. Independent valuation commentary cited in the filing indicates InvestingPro currently views the stock as overvalued relative to its Fair Value, even as sell-side analysts retain price targets in a range from $220 to $277.


Recent company results and analyst actions

Ligand reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that outpaced consensus estimates. The company posted earnings per share of $2.02, versus an analyst forecast of $1.49, and reported revenue of $59.7 million compared with an anticipated $55.6 million. For the full year, Ligand recorded $268 million in revenue and $8.13 in full-year adjusted EPS, with core revenue of $240 million.

Analyst reaction included Oppenheimer raising its price target to $277 from $275 while keeping an Outperform rating and citing the company’s royalty outlook. Stifel reiterated a Buy rating and maintained a $230 price target. Separately, Ligand reported fourth-quarter royalty revenue of $50.5 million, a figure the filing says aligned with Oppenheimer’s estimates.


These items - the insider sale under a 10b5-1 plan, the share-price appreciation toward the 52-week high, the InvestingPro valuation view and the analyst price-targets - are presented in regulatory and company disclosures. They collectively describe the recent activity around Ligand stock and the company’s most recently reported financial performance.

Risks

  • Valuation mismatch: InvestingPro flags the stock as overvalued relative to its Fair Value, which could influence investor expectations in the equities market.
  • Stock price concentration and volatility: Shares trading near a 52-week high after a large one-year gain (81%) may expose holders to heightened price swings in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
  • Analyst dispersion: Price targets ranging from $220 to $277 indicate differing analyst views, creating uncertainty for investors relying on sell-side guidance.

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