** Shares of diagnostic test maker Exagen XGN.O down 15.8% before the bell to $5.75 after equity raise
** Vista, California-based firm sells 3.35 mln shares at $5.25 for gross proceeds of ~$17.6 mln
** Offering priced at 23.1% discount to stock's last close
** Canaccord Genuity sole bookrunner
** Co intends to use net proceeds for working capital, general purposes, and potentially acquire, in-license or invest in complementary technologies or business, per the SEC prospectus filing
** The maker of testing products that help in diagnosing auto-immune diseases such as rheumatism, has ~18 mln shares outstanding for ~$123 mln market cap
** Through Weds, XGN up ~67% YTD. Stock closed at $1.40 a year ago
** 5 of 6 analysts covering XGN rate stock "strong buy" or "buy", 1 has "hold" and the median PT is $7.50 - LSEG data
(Lance Tupper is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
((lance.tupper@tr.com 1-646-279-6380))