Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.01 EPS

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) announced its earnings results on Tuesday. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.01), FiscalAI reports. The company had revenue of $168.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $165.12 million.

Here are the key takeaways from Esperion Therapeutics’ conference call:

• Esperion agreed to acquire Corstasis, giving it global rights to Enbumyst (an FDA‑approved intranasal diuretic) with the deal expected to close in Q2 2026 and immediate cross‑selling opportunities into its existing cardiology sales footprint.
• Commercial momentum continued: Q4 sales grew 38% in the U.S., retail prescription equivalents rose 34%, prescribers increased ~25%, and the company expects favorable positioning in imminent U.S. dyslipidemia guidelines plus recognition for hsCRP reduction benefits.
• Financials strengthened (record 2025 revenue, $167.9M cash, $55M debt repayment), but Q4 collaboration revenue included a one‑time $90M Otsuka payment and 2026 partnership/manufacturing transfers create moving parts that could alter partner revenue timing and mix.
• Pipeline progress includes nomination of ESP‑2001 for primary sclerosing cholangitis with IND‑enabling work underway (clinic by year‑end) and two triple‑combination programs targeted for clinical/regulatory completion toward 2027 commercialization (potential ~70% LDL reductions).

Esperion Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of Esperion Therapeutics stock opened at $2.59 on Thursday. Esperion Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $0.69 and a 52-week high of $4.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $619.17 million, a PE ratio of -15.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.11. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $3.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.14.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ESPR shares. Citigroup restated a “market outperform” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Needham & Company LLC raised their price target on shares of Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $8.25.

Key Stories Impacting Esperion Therapeutics

Here are the key news stories impacting Esperion Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 revenue significantly beat estimates — Q4 revenue of $168.45M (+144% YoY) and FY25 total revenue of $403.1M (21% Y/Y) highlight strong top-line momentum and product growth (U.S. net product revenue +38% Y/Y). GlobeNewswire Release
• Positive Sentiment: Company announced an acquisition alongside results, which earlier sparked buying interest and was cited by retail-focused coverage as a near-term catalyst. MSN: Shares Rise After Revenue Tops Forecasts and Acquisition
• Positive Sentiment: HC Wainwright reiterated bullish stance (Buy) and published an EPS forecast for the coming quarter, signaling at least one broker remains constructive on growth/catalysts. MarketBeat: HC Wainwright Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call materials and transcripts are available and include management commentary on product uptake and upcoming catalysts; these will be parsed by investors for guidance and cadence of future launches. Yahoo Finance Transcript Seeking Alpha Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Reported short-interest data appears to show zero shares (likely a reporting anomaly) and should not materially change the current supply/demand picture. (No reliable short-interest signal in latest filings.)
• Negative Sentiment: EPS missed consensus by $0.01 — reported EPS $0.22 vs. $0.23 est. The small EPS miss, despite the revenue beat, is being viewed negatively by traders and was a primary driver of intraday selling pressure. Zacks: Q4 Earnings Lag
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction: shares swung intraday (earlier pops after the acquisition/revenue beat, then declines as the EPS miss and mixed messaging landed); trading volume ran above averages, indicating active repositioning by investors. MarketBeat: Trading/Volume Summary

Insider Activity at Esperion Therapeutics

In other news, CFO Benjamin Halladay sold 7,337 shares of Esperion Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.67, for a total transaction of $26,926.79. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 467,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,715,816.75. The trade was a 1.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,543 shares of company stock worth $55,709. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ESPR. Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at approximately $278,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,583,988 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $4,513,000 after buying an additional 137,691 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in Esperion Therapeutics by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 275,688 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 39,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Esperion Therapeutics by 93.3% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 493,929 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $486,000 after acquiring an additional 238,449 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 47.39% of the company’s stock.

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.