BioCentury
ARTICLE | Finance

2Q Market Review; Buying retail

July 6, 1999 7:00 AM UTC

With many institutional investors no longer interested in biotech - or unable to invest in biotech companies because of their low share prices and valuations - some companies are looking to build their retail shareholder base.

In the U.S., retail investors bring certain advantages, including their tendency to hold stocks longer and the fact that they trade smaller blocks of shares. But having a large retail base presents a challenge to CEOs, investor relations counsels and others charged with managing shareholder expectations, because very few retail investors have the time (or the know-how) to truly understand the science behind the stocks. ...