Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) has garnered a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from analysts covering the stock, according to a report by Marketbeat. Out of eight ratings firms, one has issued a sell recommendation, one a hold, and six have assigned buy ratings. The average target price for the stock over the next year stands at $41.00.
Analysts have recently provided various insights on the company’s performance. On November 20, Mizuho set a target price of $40.00 and rated the stock as “outperform.” Following this, on December 22, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating, increasing the target price to $50.00. In contrast, Weiss Ratings maintained a “sell (d-)” rating on January 21.
Quarterly Earnings Reveal Mixed Results
Assembly Biosciences reported its quarterly earnings on November 10, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.72), which fell short of analysts’ expectations of ($0.50) by ($0.22). The company generated revenue of $10.79 million during the quarter, surpassing the consensus estimate of $7.46 million. However, financial metrics indicate challenges, with a negative net margin of 103.65% and a negative return on equity of 59.01%. Analysts project that the company will report an EPS of ($6.87) for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Investment Activity
Recent activity among institutional investors indicates a growing interest in Assembly Biosciences. Bank of America Corp DE significantly increased its holdings by 6,382.7% in the third quarter, acquiring an additional 3,319 shares for a total of 3,371 shares, valued at approximately $86,000.
Additionally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd invested in a new position worth around $282,000, while ADAR1 Capital Management LLC and Millennium Management LLC acquired stakes valued at approximately $485,000 and $553,000, respectively. Furthermore, Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake by 42.1%, now owning 23,027 shares valued at $219,000. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds hold 19.92% of the company’s stock.
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focused on innovative therapies for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections. The company specializes in small-molecule modulation of viral proteins and host-targeted pathways, aiming for sustained viral suppression and potential functional cures. Its lead programs include core protein allosteric modulators (CpAMs) aimed at disrupting the HBV lifecycle and prenylation inhibitors targeting HDV.
As Assembly Biosciences continues its efforts in advancing research and development, the market will be closely monitoring its financial performance and strategic initiatives in the coming quarters.
