Acadian Asset Management LLC Buys 631,794 Shares of Emergent Biosolutions Inc. $EBS

Key Points

• Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 313.5% in Q1, acquiring 631,794 shares for a total of 1.54% ownership valued at approximately $4.05 million.
• Emergent Biosolutions reported $0.16 EPS in its latest earnings, surpassing analysts' expectations, but its revenue of $140.90 million was below the consensus estimate of $148.55 million.
• Institutional investors currently own 78.40% of Emergent Biosolutions' stock, highlighting significant interest from large financial entities.

Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 313.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 833,316 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after buying an additional 631,794 shares during the quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned about 1.54% of Emergent Biosolutions worth $4,048,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in EBS. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 68.9% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,502,488 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $12,162,000 after buying an additional 1,020,582 shares during the last quarter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 198.9% in the first quarter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 627,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,050,000 after buying an additional 417,671 shares during the last quarter. Palisade Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 21.6% in 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 buying an additional 202,857 shares during the last quarter. Man Group plc bought a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,690,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 7.5% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,297,621 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $11,166,000 after buying an additional 159,909 shares during the last quarter. 78.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Emergent Biosolutions Trading Up 3.8%

EBS stock traded up $0.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.24. The stock had a trading volume of 2,157,690 shares, compared to its average volume of 912,389. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.48. The company has a quick ratio of 3.00, a current ratio of 5.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The firm has a market cap of $439.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 2.04. Emergent Biosolutions Inc. has a twelve month low of $4.02 and a twelve month high of $12.73.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on EBS shares. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $15.00 price target on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Wall Street Zen cut Emergent Biosolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $13.50.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Donald W. Degolyer sold 7,844 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.65, for a total value of $67,850.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 137,659 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,190,750.35. This represents a 5.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Kathryn C. Zoon sold 7,086 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.87, for a total value of $62,852.82. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 71,799 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $636,857.13. This trade represents a 8.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Emergent Biosolutions 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.