Brokerages Set Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) Target Price at $5.54

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $5.54.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Citizens Jmp cut Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st.

Esperion Therapeutics Price Performance

NASDAQ:ESPR opened at $3.18 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $819.45 million, a PE ratio of -53.00 and a beta of 1.07. Esperion Therapeutics has a one year low of $1.10 and a one year high of $4.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.15 and a 200-day moving average of $3.01.

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) last posted its earnings results on Friday, May 8th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.10) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.02) by ($0.08). Esperion Therapeutics had a net margin of 0.12% and a negative return on equity of 0.14%. The company had revenue of $80.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $84.52 million.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Benjamin Looker sold 11,824 shares of Esperion Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.15, for a total value of $37,245.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 667,524 shares in the company, valued at $2,102,700.60. This trade represents a 1.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Benjamin Halladay sold 10,773 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.15, for a total transaction of $33,934.95. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 702,829 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,213,911.35. This trade represents a 1.51% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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

Esperion Therapeutics Company Profile

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.