NEW YORK, June 29, 2026, 16:01 (EDT)
- Universe Pharmaceuticals INC NASDAQ:UPC was up 331.76% to $12.78 late in Thursday’s session, with 52.8 million shares moving hands at 3:55 p.m. EDT. Nasdaq’s regular trading closes at 4 p.m. ET.
- The company plans to issue 4.376552 million Class A shares to acquire Best Praise International for $10.751 million, according to an SEC filing from June 26.
- The block was valued at $55.9 million at $12.78, roughly 5.2x the buy price. That’s also 6.7 times the share count from StockAnalysis.
Universe Pharmaceuticals INC NASDAQ:UPC shares surged in late Monday trading on a new patent deal, but what stood out for investors was the big share count jump. The China-based specialty pharma said it would issue 4,376,552 Class A shares to Best Praise International. StockAnalysis listed just 651,310 shares outstanding toward session end.
The regular Nasdaq session closed at the dateline. The exchange’s regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, with after-hours from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nasdaq’s 2026 holiday calendar puts the next U.S. equity market closure on July 3 for Independence Day, not June 29.
UPC traded at $12.78 as of 3:55 p.m. EDT, jumping 331.76% from its last close at $2.96. Volume hit 52,819,478 shares, around 81 times the shares outstanding, according to StockAnalysis.
| Security | Late price | Day move | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universe Pharmaceuticals INC NASDAQ:UPC | $12.78 | up 331.8% | 52.8 million shares |
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) | $740.76 | up 1.6% | Broad U.S. stock benchmark |
| iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) | $189.35 | up 1.1% | Nasdaq biotech barometer |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (NYSEARCA:XBI) | $157.97 | up 1.7% | Biotech trading gauge |
U.S. markets were up, though UPC outpaced the main indexes. Reuters said the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both finished Monday with gains over 1%. SPY, IBB and XBI rose late, each up around 1% to 2%.
The SEC filing shows the Best Praise deal priced at $10.751 million, all paid in Class A shares. That works out to around $2.46 for each consideration share. The same stake showed a screen value of $55.9 million at $12.78.
| Deal and operating yardstick | Figure | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Best Praise buy price set | $10.751 mln | 60% of FY2025 revenue |
| Shares used as payment | 4.377 mln | 6.7 times current shares |
| Implied price per share | $2.46 | 81% under the late $12.78 quote |
| Value on $12.78 share price | $55.9 mln | 5.2x the buy price |
| FY2025 R&D bill | $0.672 mln | Deal runs about 16 times that |
Best Praise has five patents in China covering drug compounds and delivery tech, the SEC filing said. The patents touch on age-related diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular drug uses. The board called these assets early-stage intellectual property, according to the filing.
Chief Executive Gang Lai said in the release the patent assets will “expand the Company’s pharmaceutical capabilities” and “broaden its product pipeline.” GlobeNewswire
Universe’s main business is small. 2025 revenue came in at $17.858 million, down 22.4% from 2024, with a net loss of $3.672 million for the year. R&D expense dropped 77.8% to $671,761.
The filing means the deal still has hurdles. Approval is still needed for SEC and Nasdaq processes around the share issuance. The company also needs a PRC legal opinion on the patents, a new valuation report from King Kee Appraisal and Advisory Limited, and confirmation there won’t be a change of control. Shares to be issued will be restricted. The SPA lets either side walk if the conditions aren’t met in 120 days, unless both agree to an extension.
