Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR - Free Report) in a research note released on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued a neutral rating and a $4.00 price target on the biopharmaceutical company's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $16.00 target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $8.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $6.00 price objective on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Friday, December 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Esperion Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $7.30.

Esperion Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ ESPR traded down $0.30 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $2.16. 5,826,630 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,389,915. The company has a market capitalization of $425.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.38 and a beta of 1.01. The company's 50-day moving average is $2.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.22. Esperion Therapeutics has a one year low of $1.58 and a one year high of $3.94.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Esperion Therapeutics

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ESPR. Wasatch Advisors LP increased its holdings in Esperion Therapeutics by 38.4% during the third quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 23,346,013 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $38,521,000 after buying an additional 6,483,070 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 94.2% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 4,303,596 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $9,554,000 after purchasing an additional 2,087,635 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 3,278.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 572,323 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,271,000 after purchasing an additional 555,382 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $606,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC bought a new position in Esperion Therapeutics during the second quarter worth about $758,000. 47.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.