Envestnet Asset Management Inc. Buys Shares of 34,601 Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS)

Envestnet Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 34,601 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock, valued at approximately $331,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.06% of Emergent BioSolutions at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in EBS. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the 4th quarter valued at $63,000. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Emergent BioSolutions in the fourth quarter valued at about $98,000. Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the fourth quarter worth about $115,000. LPL Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 34.5% during the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 15,120 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $145,000 after purchasing an additional 3,875 shares during the period. Finally, Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $201,000. Institutional investors own 78.40% of the company’s stock.

Emergent BioSolutions Price Performance

Shares of EBS opened at $4.78 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 2.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has a twelve month low of $3.91 and a twelve month high of $15.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $259.89 million, a P/E ratio of -1.17 and a beta of 2.09. The company has a 50 day moving average of $5.21 and a 200-day moving average of $7.98.

Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, March 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.35) by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $194.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $254.67 million. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 18.55% and a negative return on equity of 9.91%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.77) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will post -0.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Emergent BioSolutions announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Monday, March 31st that allows the company to buyback $50.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 19% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Neal Franklin Fowler sold 35,000 shares of Emergent BioSolutions stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.83, for a total transaction of $204,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 101,100 shares in the company, valued at approximately $589,413. This trade represents a 25.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $15.00 price target on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. StockNews.com lowered shares of Emergent BioSolutions from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th.

Emergent BioSolutions Profile

Emergent BioSolutions Inc, a life sciences company, provides preparedness and response solutions for accidental, deliberate, and naturally occurring public health threats in the United States. The company offers NARCAN Nasal Spray for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose; Vaxchora vaccine for the prevention of cholera; Vivotif vaccine for oral administration for the prevention of typhoid fever; Anthrasil for the treatment of inhalational anthrax; BioThrax, an anthrax vaccine; CYFENDUS for post-exposure prophylaxis of disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis; and Raxibacumab injection for the treatment and prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax.