Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) Sets New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as $13.41 and last traded at $12.7790, with a volume of 8901843 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $9.40.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on EBS. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research upgraded Emergent Biosolutions to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $15.00 price target on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Emergent Biosolutions from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $13.50.

Emergent Biosolutions Trading Down 3.2%

The company has a current ratio of 5.66, a quick ratio of 3.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The company has a market capitalization of $663.35 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.56 and a beta of 2.04. The company has a fifty day moving average of $8.93 and a 200-day moving average of $7.40.

Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 9th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.27) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Emergent Biosolutions had a return on equity of 21.43% and a net margin of 9.62%.The firm had revenue of $222.50 million during the quarter. Emergent Biosolutions has set its FY 2023 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Emergent Biosolutions Inc. will post -0.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kathryn C. Zoon sold 7,086 shares of Emergent Biosolutions stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.87, for a total value of $62,852.82. Following the sale, the director directly owned 71,799 shares in the company, valued at approximately $636,857.13. The trade was a 8.98% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Coleen Glessner sold 30,608 shares of Emergent Biosolutions stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.00, for a total value of $306,080.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 144,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,443,190. The trade was a 17.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 45,538 shares of company stock worth $436,783. Insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 14.1% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 17,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $114,000 after purchasing an additional 2,204 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 358,952 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,290,000 after purchasing an additional 2,671 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 33.1% during the 1st quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 15,249 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 3,790 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 40.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,003 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 4,894 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 78.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Emergent Biosolutions

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.