Short Interest in Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) Drops By 16.4%

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 13,300 shares, a decrease of 16.4% from the November 30th total of 15,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 33,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.3% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Assembly Biosciences Stock Down 3.1 %

ASMB traded down $0.49 on Tuesday, reaching $15.54. The company had a trading volume of 15,293 shares, compared to its average volume of 25,484. Assembly Biosciences has a fifty-two week low of $9.12 and a fifty-two week high of $19.93. The company’s fifty day moving average is $16.04 and its 200 day moving average is $15.59.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASMB has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Assembly Biosciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $2.00 to $35.00 in a report on Friday, September 20th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Assembly Biosciences in a research note on Friday.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Alexander Schornstein purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $14.58 per share, with a total value of $145,800.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 703,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,251,387.54. This trade represents a 1.44 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders have sold a total of 394 shares of company stock worth $5,894 in the last three months. Insiders own 5.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Assembly Biosciences

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Assembly Biosciences by 5,137.3% during the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,509 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 3,442 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 29.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,855 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $240,000 after acquiring an additional 3,635 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Assembly Biosciences by 131.0% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 13,558 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $184,000 after acquiring an additional 7,690 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Assembly Biosciences by 39.2% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 54,911 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $753,000 after purchasing an additional 15,451 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in Assembly Biosciences during the second quarter worth $6,421,000. 19.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Assembly Biosciences Company Profile

Assembly Biosciences, Inc, a biotechnology company, develops therapeutic candidates for the treatment of viral diseases. It develops ABI-5366, a long-acting herpes simplex virus (HSV) helicase-primase inhibitor that is in Phase 1a/1b clinical trial to treat recurrent genital herpes; ABI-1179, which is in Phase 1a/1b clinical trial for the treatment of recurrent genital herpes; and ABI-6250, a small molecule orally bioavailable hepatitis delta virus entry inhibitor that is in Phase 1a clinical trial.