Jump Financial LLC Grows Stock Position in Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS)

Jump Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 279.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 141,938 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after purchasing an additional 104,518 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC owned approximately 0.26% of Emergent BioSolutions worth $1,357,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EBS. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Emergent BioSolutions by 5,458.5% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,946 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 2,893 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the fourth quarter worth about $63,000. Stifel Financial Corp purchased a new position in Emergent BioSolutions in the 3rd quarter worth about $96,000. E Fund Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions in the 4th quarter valued at about $98,000. Finally, Cornercap Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new position in Emergent BioSolutions in the 4th quarter worth about $115,000. 78.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Emergent BioSolutions Stock Up 4.4 %

NYSE EBS traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $5.61. 852,324 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,170,637. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has a 52 week low of $1.82 and a 52 week high of $15.10. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $5.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.20. The company has a market cap of $304.56 million, a PE ratio of -1.37 and a beta of 2.14. 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 posted its earnings results on Monday, March 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.35) by $0.40. The company had revenue of $194.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $254.67 million. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative net margin of 18.55% and a negative return on equity of 9.91%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.77) earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will post -0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Emergent BioSolutions declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Monday, March 31st that allows the company to repurchase $50.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 19% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Emergent BioSolutions

In related news, Director Neal Franklin Fowler sold 35,000 shares of Emergent BioSolutions stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.83, for a total transaction of $204,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 101,100 shares in the company, valued at approximately $589,413. This trade represents a 25.72 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on EBS shares. StockNews.com lowered Emergent BioSolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st.

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.