Raymond James & Associates Grows Stake in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH)

Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH) by 75.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 92,659 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 39,916 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates’ holdings in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals were worth $5,731,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Legato Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 95.4% during the 4th quarter. Legato Capital Management LLC now owns 15,217 shares of the company’s stock worth $941,000 after acquiring an additional 7,431 shares during the period. Advisor Resource Council purchased a new stake in shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth about $814,000. First Hawaiian Bank purchased a new position in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals during the 4th quarter valued at about $363,000. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC lifted its position in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. Juncture Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 18,796 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,163,000 after acquiring an additional 1,085 shares during the period. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its stake in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 21,440 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,326,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares in the last quarter. 65.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals stock opened at $40.90 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $48.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $51.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.97 billion, a PE ratio of 15.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.85. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a 52-week low of $35.62 and a 52-week high of $67.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a current ratio of 2.17.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.84 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $178.11 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $174.90 million. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals had a net margin of 21.34% and a return on equity of 26.95%. On average, analysts anticipate that Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post 3.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Michael A. Zasloff sold 12,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.18, for a total value of $589,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,326 shares in the company, valued at $1,006,160.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Floyd F. Petersen sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.10, for a total value of $26,550.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 80,333 shares in the company, valued at $4,265,682.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Michael A. Zasloff sold 12,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.18, for a total transaction of $589,750.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,326 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,006,160.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 14,000 shares of company stock valued at $660,860. Corporate insiders own 27.80% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Profile

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a bio-pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells generic and proprietary injectable, inhalation, and intranasal products in the United States, China, and France. It offers BAQSIMI, a nasal spray for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia; Primatene Mist, an over-the-counter epinephrine inhalation product for the temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma; Enoxaparin, to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis; REXTOVY and Naloxone for opioid overdose; Glucagon for injection emergency kit; and Cortrosyn, for use as a diagnostic agent in the screening of patients with adrenocortical insufficiency.