Edwards Lifesciences Rebounds on Institutional Buys Despite Securities Probe as $220M Volume Ranks Among Top 500

On August 14, 2025, Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW) closed with a 0.64% gain, trading at $78.50 with a daily volume of $220 million. The stock’s recent performance follows a prolonged period of volatility linked to a securities fraud investigation by the Portnoy Law Firm. The firm is probing potential misconduct tied to Edwards’ July 2024 earnings report, which revealed weaker-than-expected results and a revised revenue outlook for its TAVR platform. The company attributed the slowdown to operational strain from expanding structural heart therapies, including its own TMTT procedures, which investors interpreted as underutilization of TAVR despite prior claims of unmet patient demand. Following the July 2024 disclosures, the stock plummeted 31.34% in a single session, triggering the ongoing legal inquiry.

Recent institutional activity suggests renewed investor confidence. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake by 9.5% in the first quarter, now holding 1.67 million shares valued at $120.7 million. Analysts have also adjusted their outlooks, with Evercore ISI raising its price target to $80 and RBC to $89, reflecting a "Moderate Buy" consensus at $85.90. These upgrades contrast with prior bearish signals, as institutional ownership accounts for 79.46% of the float. However, insider selling, including 4,114 shares by VP Daniel Lippis and 1,500 shares by Daveen Chopra, highlights ongoing uncertainty among key stakeholders.

A backtested strategy of holding the top 500 stocks by daily volume for one day from 2022 to 2025 generated $10,720 in total profit, underscoring the potential of high-volume equities in short-term trading. This aligns with EW’s current market cap of $45.9 billion and its position as a leader in structural heart disease solutions, despite lingering legal and operational challenges.