Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) Short Interest Update

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 25,470,000 shares, a drop of 16.5% from the November 30th total of 30,490,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,540,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.6 days. Currently, 13.1% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Esperion Therapeutics

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Xponance Inc. bought a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Traphagen Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 115.9% during the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 19,050 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 10,225 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sivia Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $44,000. 47.39% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Esperion Therapeutics Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of ESPR traded down $0.04 on Friday, reaching $2.28. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,067,721 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,323,605. The stock has a market capitalization of $449.24 million, a PE ratio of -3.56 and a beta of 1.01. Esperion Therapeutics has a twelve month low of $1.58 and a twelve month high of $3.94. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $2.44 and a 200-day moving average of $2.21.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on ESPR shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $4.00 target price for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $8.00 price target on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $6.00 price target on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and set a $16.00 price objective on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, December 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $7.30.

Esperion Therapeutics Company Profile

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc, a pharmaceutical company, develops and commercializes medicines for the treatment of patients with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Its marketed products include NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) and NEXLIZET (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) tablets that are oral, once-daily, non-statin medicines for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who require additional lowering of LDL-C.