Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Hold”

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) was downgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Saturday.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Piper Sandler initiated coverage on Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $9.00 price target for the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup reissued a “market outperform” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $8.00.

Esperion Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of ESPR stock opened at $3.43 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $819.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.86, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.09. Esperion Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $0.69 and a 1 year high of $4.18. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $3.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.96.

Insider Transactions at Esperion Therapeutics

In related news, CFO Benjamin Halladay sold 7,337 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.67, for a total value of $26,926.79. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 467,525 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,715,816.75. The trade was a 1.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,543 shares of company stock worth $55,709. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Esperion Therapeutics

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. AIGH Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $7,950,000. Two Seas Capital LP raised its stake in Esperion Therapeutics by 43.6% during the second quarter. Two Seas Capital LP now owns 9,954,975 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $9,800,000 after purchasing an additional 3,024,104 shares in the last quarter. Summit Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in Esperion Therapeutics by 10.2% during the second quarter. Summit Wealth Group LLC now owns 323,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 30,000 shares in the last quarter. Diametric Capital LP lifted its position in Esperion Therapeutics by 57.8% during the second quarter. Diametric Capital LP now owns 678,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $668,000 after purchasing an additional 248,648 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 1,739.8% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 426,866 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,131,000 after buying an additional 403,664 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 47.39% of the company’s stock.

About Esperion Therapeutics

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of oral, low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)–lowering therapies. The company’s research and development efforts center on small-molecule compounds designed to address atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by targeting cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Esperion seeks to provide novel treatment options for patients who require additional LDL-C reduction beyond what is achieved with statins or who are statin-intolerant.

The company’s lead products include NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid), an oral adenosine triphosphate–citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor approved by the U.S.