Lazard Asset Management LLC Boosts Stake in Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS)

Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 541.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,303 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after purchasing an additional 46,676 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned about 0.10% of Emergent BioSolutions worth $528,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in EBS. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 70.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,539,907 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $14,722,000 after purchasing an additional 638,995 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 67.5% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,104,058 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $10,554,000 after purchasing an additional 444,790 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 23.4% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,137,712 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $20,437,000 after purchasing an additional 404,667 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP boosted its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 59.3% in the 4th quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 701,517 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $6,707,000 after purchasing an additional 261,099 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,831,000. 78.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Emergent BioSolutions Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE EBS traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $6.32. The stock had a trading volume of 1,449,113 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,854,426. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has a 1 year low of $4.02 and a 1 year high of $15.10. The stock has a market cap of $343.04 million, a PE ratio of -1.54 and a beta of 2.09. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $5.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 2.88 and a quick ratio of 1.47.

Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $222.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $218.50 million. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 18.55% and a negative return on equity of 9.91%. On average, research analysts expect that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will post -0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Emergent BioSolutions announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Monday, March 31st that authorizes the company to repurchase $50.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to repurchase up to 19% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EBS has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Emergent BioSolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $15.00 price objective on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a report on Tuesday, April 1st.

Insider Buying and Selling at Emergent BioSolutions

In other Emergent BioSolutions news, Director Neal Franklin Fowler sold 35,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.83, for a total transaction of $204,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 101,100 shares in the company, valued at approximately $589,413. The trade was a 25.72% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 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.