Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to "Hold"

Key Points

• Emergent Biosolutions has been downgraded from a "buy" to a "hold" rating by Wall Street Zen, indicating a shift in analysts' outlook on the stock's performance.
• The company's recent quarterly earnings reported $0.16 earnings per share, exceeding analysts' expectations but falling short on revenue, which totaled $140.90 million against a consensus of $148.55 million.
• Insider trading activity shows that Director Keith Katkin sold 7,844 shares at an average price of $6.30, reducing his ownership stake in the company by 8.32%.

Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday morning.

Emergent Biosolutions Trading Down 4.6%

Shares of NYSE:EBS traded down $0.40 during trading on Friday, reaching $8.18. The stock had a trading volume of 1,330,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,255,587. The firm's fifty day moving average is $6.72 and its 200 day moving average is $6.62. 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 has a 52 week low of $4.02 and a 52 week high of $13.28. The stock has a market cap of $443.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 1.97.

Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.26) by $0.42. Emergent Biosolutions had a net margin of 16.38% and a return on equity of 24.63%. The company had revenue of $140.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $148.55 million. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Emergent Biosolutions will post -0.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Keith Katkin sold 7,844 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.30, for a total transaction of $49,417.20. Following the transaction, the director owned 86,431 shares in the company, valued at $544,515.30. The trade was a 8.32% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 5,458.5% during 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 period. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions by 95.1% during the 1st quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 12,951 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 6,313 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the 2nd quarter valued at $68,000. Corton Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the 1st quarter valued at $70,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Emergent Biosolutions during the 2nd quarter valued at $71,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.40% of the company's stock.

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.