Flipping through the dials, we have noticed that shares of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) have shifted to the downside over the past full-year. Over the past 52-weeks, shares have been lower by -60.20%. Investors might be trying to figure out whether the situation will reverse over the next 52-week period. 

Individual investors might be digging a little deeper into the playbook in order to create a winning plan for the remainder of the calendar year. The diligent investor typically has a portfolio that is diversified and ready to encounter any unforeseen market action. Even after creating the well-planned portfolio with expected returns, nobody can be absolutely sure that those returns will be seen. Setting realistic expectations can help the investor from becoming discouraged if the original plan runs into a bit of a snag. Of course every investor would like to enter the stock market and see sizeable profits right off the bat. This may only be wishful thinking for investors who aren’t ready to put in the time and energy to make sure the overall strategy stays on track and the portfolio stays properly managed.

Shifting the focus to what the Wall Street analysts are projecting, we can see that the current consensus target price on shares of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) is $17.43. Analysts often put in a lot of work to study stocks that they cover. Because each covering analyst may come to a different conclusion about where shares are headed, investors often look to the consensus number in order to get an overall sense of the outlook. Investors may already be putting together the puzzle in order to achieve success over the next couple of quarters. Following analyst opinions may be a good way for the investor to compare individual research with that of Street professionals.

We can also see that Wall Street analysts have a consensus recommendation of 2.10 on shares of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA). This number falls on a one to five scale where a one would be considered a strong buy and a five would indicate a strong sell recommendation. Investors often have to weigh all the information before making the tough decisions. Highly publicized stocks may be enticing, but they may not be the right addition to the portfolio. Completing all the homework before taking any position can help the investor ensure that no corner has been left unchecked.

Investors tracking shares of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) may be focusing on where the stock is trading relative to its 52-week high and low. At the time of writing, the stock had recently hit $5.89. At this price, shares can be seen trading -62.67% off of the 52-week high mark and 13.27% away from the 52-week low. Investors often pay increased attention to a stock when it is nearing either mark.

Studying some alternate historical performance measures for Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA), we can see that shares are -6.51% over the previous week. Over the last month, company shares are 7.29%. For the last quarter, the stock has performed -29.29%. If we look back year-to-date, the stock has performed 6.51%. Equity market investing will always come with peaks and valleys. There are so many various factors that can have an impact on day to day stock price fluctuations. Finding the proper investing strategy may take a lot of time and effort. Many investors tend to get impatient when the portfolio is not performing up to par. Sometimes an original plan may be strong, but it needs some time to begin to work itself out. Staying on the right track can be much easier said than done.

Investors may be trying to figure out how much risk they are able to handle with their current stock holdings. Taking on too much risk can put unnecessary weight on the shoulders of even the sturdiest investors. On the flip side, investors who play it too safe may be shaking their heads and wondering what might have been. Finding that delicate risk balance can turn out to be the difference between sinking and swimming in the equity markets. It is highly important for investors to understand exactly what risks they are taking when buying and selling stocks. Knowing these risks may help avoid disaster down the line. Once the risk is calculated, investors should have an easier go at narrowing in on finding the right stocks to add to the portfolio.