Nomura Holdings Inc. Sells 130,800 Shares of Emergent Biosolutions Inc. $EBS

Key Points

• Nomura Holdings Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 67.2%, selling 130,800 shares and now holding only 63,800 shares, valued at approximately $310,000.
• Despite the stake reduction by Nomura, several institutional investors acquired new stakes in Emergent Biosolutions during the fourth quarter, indicating continued interest in the stock.
• Analysts have mixed views on EBS shares, with HC Wainwright maintaining a "buy" rating and a price target of $15.00, while Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock from "buy" to "hold".

Nomura Holdings Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Emergent Biosolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 67.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 63,800 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 130,800 shares during the period. Nomura Holdings Inc. owned 0.12% of Emergent Biosolutions worth $310,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 95.1% during the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 12,951 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 6,313 shares during the period. Corton Capital Inc. acquired a new position in Emergent Biosolutions during the 1st quarter worth approximately $70,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in Emergent Biosolutions by 40.4% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 17,003 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 4,894 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Emergent Biosolutions during the 4th quarter worth approximately $110,000. Finally, Alpine Global Management LLC acquired a new position in Emergent Biosolutions during the 4th quarter worth approximately $112,000. Institutional investors own 78.40% of the company's stock.

Emergent Biosolutions Stock Up 3.1%

Shares of Emergent Biosolutions stock traded up $0.25 on Thursday, hitting $8.22. The company had a trading volume of 915,473 shares, compared to its average volume of 970,028. The stock has a market capitalization of $438.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 2.04. Emergent Biosolutions Inc. has a 1 year low of $4.02 and a 1 year high of $12.73. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $7.68 and a 200-day moving average of $6.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 3.00 and a current ratio of 5.66.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of Emergent Biosolutions in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Emergent Biosolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $14.33.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Kathryn C. Zoon sold 7,086 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Donald W. Degolyer sold 7,844 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $8.65, for a total value of $67,850.60. Following the sale, the director directly owned 137,659 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,190,750.35. The trade was a 5.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

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.