Maxim Thinks ACHV Stock Can Double

Maxim also weighed in on HEB shares

Achieve Life Sciences Inc (NASDAQ:ACHV) has had a volatile year on the charts, making several sharp moves in both directions in 2019. Today, the shares are slightly lower, trading at $2.64, despite brokerage firm Maxim beginning coverage with a "buy" rating and $6 price target.

Before today, Ladenburg Thalmann was the only firm covering ACHV shares, just raising its price target earlier this week to $20 from $12. At current levels, the shares are testing their 200-day moving average, after coming into 2019 at $1.21.

Another name on Maxim's radar is Hemispherx Biopharma Inc (NYSEAMERICAN:HEB). The analysts set a $8 price target and a "buy" rating on the security, which was last seen trading at $5.14, down 4% this morning. The only other analyst in coverage has a "buy" rating, as well, and a price target of $26.40.

Longer term, the shares have struggled, down almost 60% in the past year. Given this weakness, it's somewhat surprising that short interest accounts for less than 4% of the security's total float.