Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) Shares Up 5.9% – Still a Buy?

Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) shares rose 5.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $11.97 and last traded at $12.08. Approximately 309,249 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily volume of 1,185,257 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.41.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on EBS shares. Zacks Research raised Emergent Biosolutions to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 24th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a report on Monday. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Emergent Biosolutions from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, November 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $15.00.

Emergent Biosolutions Stock Up 0.0%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 5.76 and a quick ratio of 3.15. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $10.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $8.60. The company has a market cap of $640.48 million, a PE ratio of 9.38 and a beta of 2.32.

Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.27) earnings per share for the quarter. Emergent Biosolutions had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 20.85%. The company had revenue of $222.50 million during the quarter. As a group, analysts anticipate that Emergent Biosolutions Inc. will post -0.63 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Ronald Richard sold 21,984 shares of Emergent Biosolutions stock in a transaction on Friday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.97, for a total transaction of $263,148.48. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 98,417 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,178,051.49. The trade was a 18.26% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Coleen Glessner sold 30,608 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.00, for a total transaction of $306,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 144,319 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,443,190. This trade represents a 17.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 3.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Emergent Biosolutions

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EBS. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC raised 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 valued at $114,000 after buying an additional 2,204 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Emergent Biosolutions by 0.7% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 358,952 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $2,290,000 after acquiring an additional 2,671 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Emergent Biosolutions by 33.1% during the first quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 15,249 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 3,790 shares during the last quarter. Profund Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 23.9% during the third quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 20,425 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $180,000 after acquiring an additional 3,937 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc bought a new stake in shares of Emergent Biosolutions in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 78.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Emergent Biosolutions Company 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.