Analysts Set Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH) Price Target at $31.00

Shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMPH) have been assigned an average recommendation of “Hold” from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $31.00.

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Zacks Research cut shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals from $36.00 to $34.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Finally, Barclays began coverage on Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $30.00 price objective for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Floyd F. Petersen sold 2,426 shares of Amphastar Pharmaceuticals stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.92, for a total transaction of $62,881.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 71,368 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,849,858.56. This trade represents a 3.29% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Richard K. Prins sold 4,179 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.10, for a total transaction of $113,250.90. Following the sale, the director directly owned 35,183 shares in the company, valued at $953,459.30. This represents a 10.62% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 35,308 shares of company stock worth $931,637 in the last quarter. 27.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Amphastar Pharmaceuticals

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

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 0.1%

AMPH opened at $26.15 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.57, a P/E/G ratio of 4.63 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 3.12 and a quick ratio of 2.21. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $26.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.16. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals has a fifty-two week low of $20.39 and a fifty-two week high of $37.04.

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AMPH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.10. Amphastar Pharmaceuticals had a net margin of 15.43% and a return on equity of 19.70%. The company had revenue of $191.84 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $186.90 million. On average, analysts anticipate that Amphastar Pharmaceuticals will post 3.49 EPS for the current year.

About Amphastar Pharmaceuticals

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.