Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) Trading Down 5.2% – Here’s What Happened

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR)’s stock price dropped 5.2% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $2.10 and last traded at $2.1050. Approximately 3,792,391 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 5,239,936 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.22.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ESPR has been the topic of several research reports. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Needham & Company LLC upped their target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 3rd. Citizens Jmp upped their target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, March 13th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 14th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Esperion Therapeutics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $7.60.

Esperion Therapeutics Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average is $2.92 and its 200 day moving average is $3.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $538.02 million, a PE ratio of -12.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.17.

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $168.45 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $165.12 million. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. will post -0.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Esperion Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. R Squared Ltd raised its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 23.5% during the fourth quarter. R Squared Ltd now owns 15,173 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 2,890 shares during the last quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 10.2% during the fourth quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 38,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $144,000 after acquiring an additional 3,614 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Esperion Therapeutics by 49.0% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 11,617 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 3,822 shares during the last quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC increased its holdings in Esperion Therapeutics by 9.4% in the fourth quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC now owns 46,595 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $172,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Esperion Therapeutics by 18.5% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 28,338 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $105,000 after purchasing an additional 4,422 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 47.39% of the company’s stock.

About Esperion Therapeutics

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of oral, low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)–lowering therapies. The company’s research and development efforts center on small-molecule compounds designed to address atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by targeting cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Esperion seeks to provide novel treatment options for patients who require additional LDL-C reduction beyond what is achieved with statins or who are statin-intolerant.

The company’s lead products include NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid), an oral adenosine triphosphate–citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor approved by the U.S.