Traders Purchase Large Volume of Call Options on Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR)

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR - Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Stock investors acquired 2,720 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 124% compared to the average volume of 1,216 call options.

Esperion Therapeutics Stock Down 3.7%

ESPR stock traded down $0.05 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $1.18. The company had a trading volume of 1,236,165 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,930,382. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $0.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.69. Esperion Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $0.69 and a 12-month high of $3.94. The company has a market capitalization of $232.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.84 and a beta of 0.67.

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.21) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $65.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $54.97 million. As a group, analysts expect that Esperion Therapeutics will post -0.29 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on ESPR shares. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and set a $4.00 price objective (down from $7.00) on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Needham & Company LLC lowered their price objective on Esperion Therapeutics from $5.00 to $4.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $16.00 target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Esperion Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $6.25.

Institutional Trading of Esperion Therapeutics

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ESPR. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the fourth quarter worth $66,000. Sigma Planning Corp grew its stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 1,455.8% in the 4th quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 190,441 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $419,000 after buying an additional 178,200 shares in the last quarter. Summit Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 292.5% in the 4th quarter. Summit Wealth Group LLC now owns 157,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $345,000 after buying an additional 117,000 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 602.8% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 173,083 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $381,000 after buying an additional 148,456 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at about $98,000. 47.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Esperion Therapeutics Company Profile

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc, a pharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes medicines for the treatment of patients with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Its marketed products include NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) tablets that are oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who require additional lowering of LDL-C.

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