Marshall Wace LLP Sells 1,165,943 Shares of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS)

Marshall Wace LLP reduced its stake in Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS - Free Report) by 46.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,328,641 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 1,165,943 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned approximately 2.45% of Emergent BioSolutions worth $12,702,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Emergent BioSolutions Stock Performance

NYSE EBS traded up $0.13 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $5.50. 1,919,673 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,651,430. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has a 52 week low of $1.82 and a 52 week high of $15.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $298.85 million, a P/E ratio of -1.34 and a beta of 2.14. The company has a current ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The business's fifty day moving average price is $5.59 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.20.

Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, March 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.35) by $0.40. Emergent BioSolutions had a negative return on equity of 9.91% and a negative net margin of 18.55%. The company had revenue of $194.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $254.67 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.77) EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will post -0.63 EPS for the current year.

Emergent BioSolutions declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Monday, March 31st that authorizes the company to repurchase $50.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to buy up to 19% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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 sale, the director now owns 101,100 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $589,413. This trade represents a 25.72 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. StockNews.com downgraded Emergent BioSolutions from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th.

Emergent BioSolutions Profile

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.