Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. $ESPR Shares Bought by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR) by 1,621.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 580,705 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 546,964 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.23% of Esperion Therapeutics worth $1,591,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $278,000. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in 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 last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 16.8% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 275,688 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $271,000 after acquiring an additional 39,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 93.3% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 493,929 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $486,000 after acquiring an additional 238,449 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 47.39% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Esperion Therapeutics

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ESPR. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Piper Sandler cut shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. HC Wainwright downgraded shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $3.16 target price on the stock. in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Citizens Jmp lowered shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $5.54.

Esperion Therapeutics Price Performance

ESPR stock opened at $3.18 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $819.45 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -53.00 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $3.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.97. Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. has a 12 month low of $1.10 and a 12 month high of $4.18.

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

Esperion Therapeutics 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.