Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) Sets New 1-Year Low – Should You Sell?

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH) reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $19.54 and last traded at $20.44, with a volume of 726331 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $19.96.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AMPH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 27th. Zacks Research lowered Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 14th. Barclays assumed coverage on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from $34.00 to $30.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Amphastar Pharmaceuticals has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $29.50.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 4.02 and a quick ratio of 2.90. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $26.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $927.36 million, a PE ratio of 10.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.93.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.73 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.97 by ($0.24). Amphastar Pharmaceuticals had a net margin of 13.63% and a return on equity of 17.58%. The business had revenue of $183.11 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $190.48 million. On average, research analysts expect that Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will post 3.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Amphastar Pharmaceuticals news, EVP Rong Zhou sold 9,787 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total transaction of $256,419.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 138,043 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,616,726.60. This trade represents a 6.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Floyd F. Petersen sold 2,426 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.92, for a total transaction of $62,881.92. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 71,368 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,849,858.56. The trade was a 3.29% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 13,950 shares of company stock valued at $363,925. Insiders own 27.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Amphastar Pharmaceuticals

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AMPH. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its stake in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 356.0% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 944 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 737 shares in the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 219.0% in the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 1,024 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 703 shares during the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. raised its position in shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals by 3,430.8% during the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 1,377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new position in Amphastar Pharmaceuticals during the third quarter worth $32,000. 65.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc is a specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Founded in 2004, Amphastar focuses on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of injectable and inhalation products. The company’s manufacturing facilities in California produce both generic and proprietary formulations designed to address urgent and chronic medical conditions.

Amphastar’s portfolio includes a range of injectable generics such as epinephrine, naloxone and lidocaine, serving hospital, emergency medical and retail pharmacy channels.