LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC LGND
COM NEW · Common Stock · CUSIP 53220K504
Biopharmaceutical company based out of La Jolla, California
- SectorHealth care
- IndustryPharmaceutical Preparations
- HeadquartersSan Diego, CA
- Founded1987
- Websiteligand.com
- FilingsSEC EDGAR
* Summed across managers. Shares that two managers' reports both contain – a subsidiary's holdings that its parent's report includes too, or a sub-adviser's in its client's – are counted once ($28.8m this quarter). Holder counts are more reliable. Shares outstanding: 20.0m as of 2026-05-05, from the company's own SEC filing; the percentage can still exceed 100%: lent-out shares are counted by the lender and the buyer, and some reports overlap without saying so. Implied quarter-end price ≈ $199.55. Options: 5 managers hold calls ($8.5m notional), 5 hold puts ($6.9m).
Trends to Q1 2026
Institutional holders
Managers reporting a position, each quarter
Numbers
| Quarter | Holders |
|---|---|
| Q3 2022 | 204 |
| Q4 2022 | 197 |
| Q1 2023 | 213 |
| Q2 2023 | 204 |
| Q3 2023 | 197 |
| Q4 2023 | 211 |
| Q1 2024 | 222 |
| Q2 2024 | 235 |
| Q3 2024 | 243 |
| Q4 2024 | 259 |
| Q1 2025 | 263 |
| Q2 2025 | 272 |
| Q3 2025 | 314 |
| Q4 2025 | 351 |
| Q1 2026 | 359 |
Buyers vs sellers
Managers adding to or starting a position, vs cutting or selling out
Numbers
| Quarter | Bought or added | Cut or sold out |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2024 | 122 | 100 |
| Q3 2024 | 131 | 81 |
| Q4 2024 | 139 | 84 |
| Q1 2025 | 132 | 112 |
| Q2 2025 | 140 | 111 |
| Q3 2025 | 161 | 118 |
| Q4 2025 | 168 | 146 |
| Q1 2026 | 183 | 158 |
Calls vs puts
Options held, notional value, last 4 quarters. P/C = puts ÷ calls
Numbers
| Quarter | Calls | Puts | P/C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2025 | $1.1m | $11.4k | 0.01 |
| Q3 2025 | $3.5m | $2.0m | 0.58 |
| Q4 2025 | $6.7m | $1.8m | 0.26 |
| Q1 2026 | $8.5m | $6.9m | 0.82 |
Biggest buyers
| Invesco Ltd. | Added | +307.1k |
| NEXT CENTURY GROWTH INVESTORS LLC | New | +95.9k |
| BESSEMER GROUP INC | Added | +84.3k |
| FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC | Added | +77.0k |
| GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | Added | +65.3k |
| VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC | Added | +46.8k |
| D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc. | Added | +41.9k |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ | Added | +37.7k |
| Qube Research & Technologies Ltd | Added | +32.3k |
| GW&K Investment Management, LLC | Added | +32.1k |
Biggest sellers
| UBS AM, a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC | Reduced | -150.7k |
| JACOBS LEVY EQUITY MANAGEMENT, INC | Reduced | -106.2k |
| MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES CO /MA/ | Reduced | -95.5k |
| NOMURA ASSET MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC. | Reduced | -70.8k |
| GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC | Reduced | -47.9k |
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN | Reduced | -47.7k |
| F/m Investments LLC | Reduced | -44.1k |
| BANK OF MONTREAL /CAN/ | Reduced | -39.9k |
| UBS Group AG | Reduced | -38.5k |
| LOOMIS SAYLES & CO L P | Reduced | -29.5k |
Biggest calls
| SUSQUEHANNA INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLP | Added | $3.6m17.9k shares |
| CITADEL ADVISORS LLC | Added | $2.7m13.4k shares |
| D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc. | Reduced | $1.3m6.6k shares |
| JANE STREET GROUP, LLC | Reduced | $818.6k4.1k shares |
| SIMPLEX TRADING, LLC | New | $99.8k500 shares |
Biggest puts
| Hudson Bay Capital Management LP | New | $4.5m22.4k shares |
| SUSQUEHANNA INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLP | Added | $1.6m8.0k shares |
| D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc. | New | $439.2k2.2k shares |
| JANE STREET GROUP, LLC | New | $419.3k2.1k shares |
| SIMPLEX TRADING, LLC | Reduced | $20.0k100 shares |
Options at notional value: the value of the shares the contracts control, as filers report them, not what the options cost. Not included in the holders, shares or buying above.
Major shareholders (over 5%)
Anyone who owns more than 5% of a class of the company's shares has to say so: on Schedule 13D if they may try to influence or control the company, on 13G if they're a passive investor, and update it as the stake changes. Each holder's latest filing, from 19 Dec 2024 on; percentages are of the share class, as the holder worked them out.
| Holder | Stake |
|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. 13G · institution -1.1 pts · filed 2025-10-17 | 14.5% |
| Invesco Ltd. 13G · institution new · filed 2026-08-13 | 6.1% |
| VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC 13G · institution new · filed 2026-05-01 | 5.6% |
| JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC 13G · institution -0.2 pts · filed 2025-11-14 | 5.3% |
| VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 13G · institution new · filed 2026-05-01 | 5.0% |
Fell to 5% or below in the last year: VANGUARD GROUP INC (0.0%, 2026-03-27; now reported by VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC)
Insider purchases and sales in Q1 2026
Shares bought or sold by the company's own officers, directors and 10% owners, in the open market or privately, as they reported to the SEC on Form 4 (due within two business days of the trade). Grants, option exercises, shares withheld for tax and gifts aren't included.
Officers and directors buying vs selling
Number of people, by quarter (10% owners not included)
Numbers
| Quarter | Buying | Bought | Selling | Sold | Sold under a plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2024 | 0 | — | 4 | $3.6m | — |
| Q3 2024 | 1 | $243.5k | 3 | $5.9m | — |
| Q4 2024 | 0 | — | 2 | $542.3k | — |
| Q1 2025 | 0 | — | 1 | $575.1k | — |
| Q2 2025 | 2 | $1.2m | 1 | $218.3k | — |
| Q3 2025 | 0 | — | 2 | $2.0m | $254.1k |
| Q4 2025 | 0 | — | 4 | $2.8m | $264.5k |
| Q1 2026 | 0 | — | 5 | $5.8m | $4.8m |
| Date | Insider | Trade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-23 | Sabba Stephen L Director | Sold | $207.9k1.0k shares |
| 2026-03-11 | Espinoza Octavio Chief Financial Officer | Sold plan | $687.8k3.1k shares |
| 2026-03-06 | LAMATTINA JOHN L Director | Sold | $433.8k2.2k shares |
| 2026-03-04 | Espinoza Octavio Chief Financial Officer | Sold plan | $2.8m13.4k shares |
| 2026-03-04 | Reardon Andrew CLO & Secretary | Sold plan | $1.0m5.0k shares |
| 2026-03-03 | Sabba Stephen L Director | Sold | $409.9k2.0k shares |
| 2026-03-02 | KOZARICH JOHN W Director | Sold plan | $93.6k467 shares |
| 2026-02-02 | KOZARICH JOHN W Director | Sold plan | $91.5k467 shares |
| 2026-01-02 | KOZARICH JOHN W Director | Sold plan | $88.5k467 shares |
Their holding: how much the trade added to or took from the insider's holding (direct, or the trust or fund named). The same trade is sometimes reported by more than one insider, such as a fund and the director who represents it; totals count it once. A value is left blank where the reported price is far from the market price (usually a typo).
Holders, Q1 2026
| Manager | Shares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. 0.01% of their portfolio | 3.0m $591.3m | Added +21.7k |
| VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC 0.01% of their portfolio | 1.1m $219.7m | First filing |
| JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC 0.10% of their portfolio | 1.0m $201.6m | Added +14.5k |
| VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC 0.00% of their portfolio | 848.1k $169.3m | First filing |
| Invesco Ltd. 0.02% of their portfolio | 823.6k $164.4m | Added +307.1k |
| STATE STREET CORP 0.01% of their portfolio | 778.9k $155.5m | Added +27.7k |
| FMR LLC 0.01% of their portfolio | 596.1k $119.0m | Added +17.0k |
| NOMURA ASSET MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC. 0.20% of their portfolio | 573.3k $114.5m | Reduced -70.8k |
| FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC 0.03% of their portfolio | 573.2k $114.4m | Added +77.0k |
| Chicago Capital, LLC 3.02% of their portfolio | 561.7k $112.1m | Added +252 |
| GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC 0.01% of their portfolio | 558.9k $111.6m | Added +65.3k |
| CONGRESS ASSET MANAGEMENT CO 0.72% of their portfolio | 504.6k $100.8m | Added +24.6k |
| Stephens Investment Management Group LLC 1.35% of their portfolio | 494.7k $98.8m | Reduced -6.4k |
| DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP 0.02% of their portfolio | 425.2k $84.9m | Reduced -7.8k |
| MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES CO /MA/ 0.03% of their portfolio | 411.5k $82.2m | Reduced -95.5k |
| GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC 0.01% of their portfolio | 381.1k $76.1m | Reduced -47.9k |
| LOOMIS SAYLES & CO L P 0.09% of their portfolio | 353.2k $70.5m | Reduced -29.5k |
| DEUTSCHE BANK AG\ 0.02% of their portfolio | 306.1k $61.1m | Reduced -1.8k |
| VICTORY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC 0.04% of their portfolio | 303.2k $60.5m | Added +46.8k |
| RICE HALL JAMES & ASSOCIATES, LLC 3.15% of their portfolio | 283.6k $56.6m | Added +3.9k |
| Ranger Investment Management, L.P. 3.87% of their portfolio | 267.9k $53.5m | Reduced -2.0k |
| NORTHERN TRUST CORP 0.01% of their portfolio | 254.2k $50.7m | Added +3.5k |
| UBS AM, a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC 0.01% of their portfolio | 212.9k $42.5m | Reduced -150.7k |
| ASHFORD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC 5.12% of their portfolio | 207.6k $41.4m | Reduced -6.2k |
| Private Capital Management, LLC 4.09% of their portfolio | 201.4k $40.2m | Reduced -7.5k |
| VILLERE ST DENIS J & CO LLC 4.16% of their portfolio | 188.9k $37.7m | Reduced -13.6k |
| CHARLES SCHWAB INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC 0.01% of their portfolio | 182.9k $36.5m | Reduced -1.4k |
| MORGAN STANLEY 0.00% of their portfolio | 167.2k $33.4m | Reduced -26.2k |
| BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ 0.00% of their portfolio | 157.9k $31.5m | Added +37.7k |
| Impax Asset Management Group plc 0.21% of their portfolio | 152.4k $30.4m | Reduced -12.8k |
| GW&K Investment Management, LLC 0.26% of their portfolio | 149.5k $29.8m | Added +32.1k |
| Fiera Capital Corp 0.09% of their portfolio | 135.3k $27.0m | Added +4.1k |
| Fisher Asset Management, LLC 0.01% of their portfolio | 128.0k $25.6m | Reduced -2.9k |
| VANGUARD FIDUCIARY TRUST CO 0.01% of their portfolio | 127.9k $25.5m | First filing |
| Russell Investments Group, Ltd. 0.03% of their portfolio | 121.2k $24.2m | Reduced -17.3k |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMON RETIREMENT FUND 0.03% of their portfolio | 119.8k $23.9m | Added +12.3k |
| Bank of New York Mellon Corp 0.00% of their portfolio | 119.4k $23.8m | Reduced -2.9k |
| Driehaus Capital Management LLC 0.17% of their portfolio | 118.2k $23.6m | Reduced -4.2k |
| NOMURA HOLDINGS INC 0.19% of their portfolio | 114.4k $22.8m | Reduced -2.1k |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA 0.00% of their portfolio | 111.5k $22.3m | Added +2.7k |
| BESSEMER GROUP INC 0.03% of their portfolio | 107.9k $21.5m | Added +84.3k |
| UBS Group AG 0.00% of their portfolio | 104.6k $20.9m | Reduced -38.5k |
| Legal & General Group Plc 0.00% of their portfolio | 97.7k $19.5m | Reduced -10.7k |
| NEXT CENTURY GROWTH INVESTORS LLC 1.39% of their portfolio | 95.9k $19.1m | New |
| PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC 0.01% of their portfolio | 95.7k $19.1m | Added +1.9k |
| Penn Capital Management Company, LLC 1.48% of their portfolio | 95.5k $19.1m | Reduced -3.4k |
| Clark Capital Management Group, Inc. 0.11% of their portfolio | 90.2k $18.0m | Added +10.4k |
| Aberdeen Group plc 0.03% of their portfolio | 90.0k $18.0m | Reduced -29.3k |
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO 0.00% of their portfolio | 86.3k $16.6m | Added +29.7k |
| BANK OF MONTREAL /CAN/ 0.01% of their portfolio | 86.2k $17.2m | Reduced -39.9k |
| WELLS FARGO & COMPANY/MN 0.00% of their portfolio | 84.9k $17.0m | Reduced -47.7k |
| FIRST TRUST ADVISORS LP 0.01% of their portfolio | 80.4k $16.1m | Added +11.2k |
| D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc. 0.01% of their portfolio | 78.4k $15.7m | Added +41.9k |
| AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC 0.00% of their portfolio | 77.3k $15.4m | Reduced -21.0k |
| SEI INVESTMENTS CO 0.01% of their portfolio | 75.2k $15.0m | Added +28.8k |
| Public Sector Pension Investment Board 0.04% of their portfolio | 70.4k $14.1m | Added +2.3k |
| Dana Investment Advisors, Inc. 0.41% of their portfolio | 69.2k $13.8m | Reduced -162 |
| PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC 0.02% of their portfolio | 64.1k $12.8m | Added +18.5k |
| Pictet Asset Management Holding SA 0.01% of their portfolio | 60.7k $11.7m | Reduced -3.6k |
| KORNITZER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC /KS 0.26% of their portfolio | 60.3k $12.0m | Unchanged |
| ESSEX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO LLC 1.85% of their portfolio | 58.5k $11.7m | Reduced -1.6k |
| OSAIC HOLDINGS, INC. 0.02% of their portfolio | 58.1k $11.6m | Reduced -1.3k |
| RHUMBLINE ADVISERS 0.01% of their portfolio | 56.8k $11.3m | Added +64 |
| Granite Investment Partners, LLC 0.66% of their portfolio | 54.2k $10.8m | Reduced -3.8k |
| Allspring Global Investments Holdings, LLC 0.02% of their portfolio | 52.7k $10.5m | Reduced -19.2k |
| NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB 0.01% of their portfolio | 50.9k $9.8m | Reduced -2.8k |
| CASTLEARK MANAGEMENT LLC 0.32% of their portfolio | 48.7k $9.7m | Reduced -18.0k |
| Qube Research & Technologies Ltd 0.01% of their portfolio | 47.7k $9.5m | Added +32.3k |
| WCM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC 0.02% of their portfolio | 44.7k $8.6m | Reduced -963 |
| Emerald Investment Advisers, LLC 0.79% of their portfolio | 44.2k $8.8m | First filing |
| Nuveen, LLC 0.00% of their portfolio | 42.7k $8.5m | Added +5.1k |
| AMERICAN CENTURY COMPANIES INC 0.00% of their portfolio | 40.5k $8.1m | Reduced -390 |
| Uniplan Investment Counsel, Inc. 0.82% of their portfolio | 40.2k $8.0m | Reduced -2.2k |
| Swiss National Bank 0.00% of their portfolio | 38.9k $7.8m | Added +300 |
| Lisanti Capital Growth, LLC 1.94% of their portfolio | 38.6k $7.7m | Reduced -5.1k |
| BNP PARIBAS FINANCIAL MARKETS 0.00% of their portfolio | 34.9k $7.0m | Reduced -42 |
| ENVESTNET ASSET MANAGEMENT INC 0.00% of their portfolio | 34.6k $6.9m | Added +6.8k |
| STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP 0.01% of their portfolio | 33.0k $6.6m | Added +14.3k |
| CAPTRUST FINANCIAL ADVISORS 0.01% of their portfolio | 29.9k $6.0m | Added +15.3k |
| Universal- Beteiligungs- und Servicegesellschaft mbH 0.01% of their portfolio | 25.2k $5.0m | Added +4.3k |
| NEW YORK STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 0.01% of their portfolio | 24.5k $4.9m | Reduced -2.4k |
| ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN L.P. 0.00% of their portfolio | 24.3k $4.6m | Added +124 |
| Granahan Investment Management, LLC 0.23% of their portfolio | 24.2k $4.8m | Reduced -1.9k |
| ISTHMUS PARTNERS, LLC 0.50% of their portfolio | 24.1k $4.8m | Reduced -649 |
| PRICE T ROWE ASSOCIATES INC /MD/ 0.00% of their portfolio | 23.9k $4.8m | Added +3.9k |
| CALIFORNIA STATE TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM 0.01% of their portfolio | 23.8k $4.7m | Added +5.0k |
| Legato Capital Management LLC 0.41% of their portfolio | 22.4k $4.5m | Reduced -3.9k |
| CITIGROUP INC 0.00% of their portfolio | 21.6k $4.3m | Added +3.3k |
| Calamos Advisors LLC 0.02% of their portfolio | 20.9k $4.2m | Reduced -185 |
| JACOBS LEVY EQUITY MANAGEMENT, INC 0.02% of their portfolio | 20.5k $4.1m | Reduced -106.2k |
| PALISADE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP 0.14% of their portfolio | 20.5k $4.1m | New |
| Moran Wealth Management, LLC 0.12% of their portfolio | 19.3k $3.9m | New |
| WOODSTOCK CORP 0.34% of their portfolio | 19.1k $3.8m | Reduced -885 |
| CAXTON ASSOCIATES LLP 0.09% of their portfolio | 18.7k $3.7m | Added +4.1k |
| RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INC 0.00% of their portfolio | 18.3k $3.6m | Reduced -498 |
| MARTINGALE ASSET MANAGEMENT L P 0.09% of their portfolio | 17.8k $3.5m | Added +2.4k |
| VANGUARD ASSET MANAGEMENT, Ltd 0.00% of their portfolio | 17.4k $3.5m | First filing |
| Linden Thomas Advisory Services, LLC 0.32% of their portfolio | 16.7k $3.3m | Added +94 |
| CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co 0.01% of their portfolio | 16.0k $3.2m | Reduced -773 |
| Moody Aldrich Partners LLC 0.53% of their portfolio | 14.7k $2.9m | Reduced -4.9k |