Barclays PLC Grows Position in Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR)

Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR - Free Report) by 99.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 309,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after purchasing an additional 154,509 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned 0.16% of Esperion Therapeutics worth $510,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Xponance Inc. acquired a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Traphagen Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Esperion Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Versor Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $44,000. Finally, Boomfish Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 34,997 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 5,102 shares during the period. 47.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Esperion Therapeutics Trading Down 2.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ:ESPR traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $2.21. 2,549,121 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,249,790. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. has a twelve month low of $1.58 and a twelve month high of $3.94. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $2.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $2.18. The stock has a market cap of $435.46 million, a P/E ratio of -3.45, a PEG ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 1.03.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $8.00 price objective on the stock. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Friday, January 10th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $6.00 price objective on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $4.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $7.30.

About Esperion Therapeutics

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.