Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Cuts Holdings in Emergent Biosolutions Inc. $EBS

Key Points

• Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Emergent Biosolutions Inc. by 54.8% in Q1, now holding 583,271 shares valued at approximately $2.8 million.
• Institutional investors own 78.40% of Emergent Biosolutions' stock, with Prescott Group Capital Management increasing its stake by 198.9% during the same period.
• Emergent Biosolutions recently received a downgrade from a "buy" to a "hold" rating by Wall Street Zen, though the stock maintains an average rating of "Buy" with a consensus price target of $14.33.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. trimmed its position in Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 54.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 583,271 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 706,959 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 1.07% of Emergent Biosolutions worth $2,835,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 83.0% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,481,906 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $14,167,000 after acquiring an additional 671,947 shares in the last quarter. Palisade Capital Management LP boosted its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 202,857 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 67.5% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,104,058 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $10,554,000 after acquiring an additional 444,790 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 13.9% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 846,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $8,095,000 after acquiring an additional 103,574 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 14.1% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 656,500 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $6,276,000 after acquiring an additional 81,000 shares in the last quarter. 78.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Emergent Biosolutions Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE EBS traded down $0.30 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $7.91. The company had a trading volume of 428,871 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,238,276. The company has a current ratio of 5.66, a quick ratio of 3.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $7.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $6.44. Emergent Biosolutions Inc. has a 1 year low of $4.02 and a 1 year high of $12.73. The stock has a market cap of $422.00 million, a P/E ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 2.04.

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. Emergent Biosolutions had a net margin of 16.38% and a return on equity of 24.63%. The firm had revenue of $140.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $148.55 million. On average, analysts forecast that Emergent Biosolutions Inc. will post -0.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Emergent Biosolutions

In related news, Director Donald W. Degolyer sold 7,844 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were 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 of the company's stock, valued at $1,190,750.35. This trade represents a 5.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Kathryn C. Zoon sold 7,086 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.87, for a total transaction of $62,852.82. Following the transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 3.20% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Wednesday. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Emergent Biosolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $14.33.

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.