Protagonist Therapeutics Director Sells 20,000 Shares Amid Strong Stock Performance
Key Points
A director for Protagonist Therapeutics sold 20,000 shares for a transaction value of approximately $1.7 million on Feb. 6, 2026.
The transaction involved the exercise of stock options, after which the director held zero options.
- 10 stocks we like better than Protagonist Therapeutics ›
On Feb. 6, 2026, William D. Waddill, a director at Protagonist Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PTGX), exercised his stock options and immediately sold 20,000 shares, generating a transaction value of approximately $1.7 million, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares sold (direct) | 20,000 |
| Transaction value | $1.7 million |
| Post-transaction shares (direct) | 7,825 |
| Post-transaction value (direct ownership) | $661,134.25 |
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($83.68); post-transaction value based on Feb. 6, 2026 market close ($83.68).
Key questions
- How significant was this sale relative to Waddill’s historical activity?
This 20,000-share sale is five times larger than the recent median sell transaction of 4,000 shares. - Was there any indirect participation or use of related entities?
All transactions were conducted through direct ownership; no indirect entities or trusts were involved, as confirmed by post-trade holdings being zero for all indirect accounts. - What market context surrounded this transaction?
The transaction coincided with a period of strong price performance, as shares were priced at $83.68 (the market closed at $84.49 on Feb. 6, 2026), and the stock was up 123.8% over the prior twelve months.
Company overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price (as of Feb. 14, 2026) | $81.49 |
| Market capitalization | $5.09 billion |
| Revenue (TTM) | $209.22 million |
| Net income (TTM) | $45.91 million |
Company snapshot
Protagonist Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that uses proprietary peptide technology to address unmet medical needs in hematology and immunology. It focuses on patients with rare blood disorders and inflammatory diseases, partnering with healthcare providers and biopharmaceutical partners.
What this transaction means for investors
While Waddill’s sale of shares and exercising all of his remaining stock options with the company does raise questions, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason he sold shares. However, what may be notable for investors is that the majority of Wall Street analysts rate Protagonist Therapeutics’ stock a “strong buy,” and it has a high price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 113.15, which may indicate high growth expectations.
At the 44th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in early January 2026, Protagonist highlighted its significant projected growth within the next 12-24 months. The company mentioned expanding its clinical trial pipelines and that two key pharmaceutical products have reached advanced stages of clinical development, with backing from large firms such as Johnson & Johnson.
Protagonist’s stock soared approximately 123% in 2025, and with the strong support of Wall St. and institutional investors, it looks like an ideal option for those who want portfolio exposure to the medical field.
Should you buy stock in Protagonist Therapeutics right now?
Before you buy stock in Protagonist Therapeutics, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Protagonist Therapeutics wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $414,554!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,120,663!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 884% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 193% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of February 16, 2026.
Adé Hennis has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Protagonist Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
