Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) Stock Price Crosses Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ESPR)’s share price passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $3.16 and traded as low as $2.66. Esperion Therapeutics shares last traded at $2.76, with a volume of 4,588,910 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ESPR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citizens Jmp increased their target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 13th. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Esperion Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Esperion Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, March 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on shares of Esperion Therapeutics from $4.00 to $5.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $7.60.

Esperion Therapeutics Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $3.16. The firm has a market cap of $703.66 million, a P/E ratio of -16.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.11.

Esperion Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ESPR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 10th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $168.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $165.12 million. Sell-side analysts predict that Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. will post -0.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Esperion Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. grew its position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics by 209.2% during the 3rd quarter. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. now owns 9,430 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 6,380 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $25,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the third quarter worth $29,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Esperion Therapeutics in the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Esperion Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. 47.39% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Esperion Therapeutics

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.