Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 8,230,000 shares, a growth of 84.1% from the September 15th total of 4,470,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,020,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days. Approximately 15.9% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EBS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $8.00 price target on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Friday, August 16th. Rodman & Renshaw reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research note on Friday, September 13th.

Emergent BioSolutions Trading Up 3.6 %

Shares of NYSE:EBS opened at $8.75 on Monday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $8.20 and its 200 day moving average is $6.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.54. Emergent BioSolutions has a 1 year low of $1.42 and a 1 year high of $15.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $458.52 million, a P/E ratio of -0.79 and a beta of 1.59.

Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($2.32) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.97) by ($1.35). The company had revenue of $254.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 last year, the company earned ($1.06) EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Emergent BioSolutions will post -1.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Emergent BioSolutions

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 20.1% in the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 193,991 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $491,000 after acquiring an additional 32,460 shares during the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions during the first quarter worth about $243,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions in the first quarter valued at approximately $57,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in Emergent BioSolutions by 155.3% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 163,589 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $414,000 after buying an additional 99,520 shares during the period. Finally, Fidelis Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Emergent BioSolutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $67,000. 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.