Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $8.00.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen cut Esperion Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Citigroup reiterated a “market outperform” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $9.00 target price on the stock.

Esperion Therapeutics Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of NASDAQ ESPR opened at $3.48 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $3.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.03. Esperion Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $0.69 and a 52-week high of $4.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $831.94 million, a P/E ratio of -6.96, a PEG ratio of 0.74 and a beta of 1.09.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Benjamin Halladay sold 7,337 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.67, for a total transaction of $26,926.79. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 467,525 shares in the company, valued at $1,715,816.75. The trade was a 1.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,543 shares of company stock valued at $55,709. Company insiders own 1.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Esperion Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESPR. R Squared Ltd boosted its holdings 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 valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 2,890 shares during the period. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Esperion Therapeutics by 10.2% in 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 purchasing an additional 3,614 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in 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 valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 3,822 shares during the period. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC grew its position in Esperion Therapeutics by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Eaton Financial Holdings Company LLC now owns 46,595 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $172,000 after purchasing 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 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 28,338 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $105,000 after purchasing an additional 4,422 shares during the last quarter. 47.39% of the stock is currently owned by 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.