Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) Trading 9.5% Higher – Should You Buy?

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS) shares shot up 9.5% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $9.73 and last traded at $9.72. 694,796 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average session volume of 3,340,523 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.88.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on EBS shares. Benchmark increased their target price on Emergent BioSolutions from $8.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Emergent BioSolutions from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Rodman & Renshaw reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $16.00 price target on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a report on Friday, September 13th.

Emergent BioSolutions Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $509.29 million, a P/E ratio of -2.32 and a beta of 1.57. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $8.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.17. The company has a current ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Emergent BioSolutions

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Emergent BioSolutions by 361.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 39,308 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $329,000 after purchasing an additional 30,792 shares during the period. Oak Hill Advisors LP bought a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions during the third quarter valued at approximately $9,296,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 4.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 581,958 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $4,861,000 after buying an additional 25,776 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Emergent BioSolutions by 19.6% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 136,289 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,138,000 after acquiring an additional 22,295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Emergent BioSolutions by 864.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,911,327 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $15,960,000 after buying an additional 1,713,200 shares in the last quarter. 78.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.