Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) Short Interest Update

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,790,000 shares, a decline of 5.3% from the September 30th total of 8,230,000 shares. Currently, 15.0% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,780,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.8 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on EBS. Rodman & Renshaw reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $16.00 target price on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a report on Friday, September 13th. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $8.00 price target on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Friday, August 16th.

Emergent BioSolutions Stock Up 2.8 %

NYSE:EBS traded up $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $9.31. 335,975 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,431,516. Emergent BioSolutions has a twelve month low of $1.42 and a twelve month high of $15.10. The stock has a market cap of $492.59 million, a PE ratio of -0.81 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.34 and a 200 day moving average of $7.41.

Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($2.32) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.97) by ($1.35). The firm had revenue of $254.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $199.47 million. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 53.26% and a negative return on equity of 34.38%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($1.06) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Emergent BioSolutions will post -1.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Emergent BioSolutions

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EBS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 14.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,411,549 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $8,631,000 after buying an additional 436,911 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 5.8% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 946,302 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $6,454,000 after purchasing an additional 52,144 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 240.9% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 881,893 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $6,015,000 after acquiring an additional 623,201 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 74.5% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 741,552 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $6,192,000 after acquiring an additional 316,700 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 75.4% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 542,813 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,702,000 after purchasing an additional 233,341 shares in the last quarter. 78.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.