Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) Share Price Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Emergent Biosolutions' stock price recently crossed above its 200-day moving average at $6.72, trading as high as $9.39 before settling at $9.16.
• Analysts are divided on the stock, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and a price target of $13.50, while one firm downgraded it from a "buy" to a "hold" rating.
• Insider activity reveals a decrease in ownership by directors, with significant shares sold at prices around $8.87 to $8.65, suggesting potential concerns from company insiders.

Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Get Free Report) shares crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $6.72 and traded as high as $9.39. Emergent Biosolutions shares last traded at $9.16, with a volume of 769,183 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on EBS. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Emergent Biosolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Saturday, September 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $13.50.

Emergent Biosolutions Trading Up 0.1%

The firm's 50 day moving average price is $8.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.72. The stock has a market cap of $488.69 million, a P/E ratio of 3.74 and a beta of 2.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 5.66 and a quick ratio of 3.00.

Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.26) by $0.42. The firm had revenue of $140.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $148.55 million. Emergent Biosolutions had a net margin of 16.38% and a return on equity of 24.63%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Emergent Biosolutions Inc. will post -0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Emergent Biosolutions

In other news, Director Kathryn C. Zoon sold 7,086 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.87, for a total value of $62,852.82. Following the transaction, the director owned 71,799 shares in the company, valued at approximately $636,857.13. This represents a 8.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Donald W. Degolyer sold 7,844 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.65, for a total transaction of $67,850.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 137,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,190,750.35. This represents a 5.39% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 3.20% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EBS. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the first quarter valued at approximately $179,000. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the first quarter valued at approximately $131,000. Cannon Global Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the first quarter valued at approximately $144,000. Palisade Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 21.6% during the first quarter. Palisade Capital Management LP now owns 1,141,589 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $5,548,000 after purchasing an additional 202,857 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 40.4% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,003 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 4,894 shares during the last quarter. 78.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.