Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of November. As of November 30th, there was short interest totalling 15,900 shares, a growth of 37.1% from the November 15th total of 11,600 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 33,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Assembly Biosciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $2.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Friday, September 20th. HC Wainwright reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Assembly Biosciences in a report on Tuesday, September 24th.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Alexander Schornstein acquired 10,000 shares of Assembly Biosciences stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $14.58 per share, with a total value of $145,800.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 703,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,251,387.54. The trade was a 1.44 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 394 shares of company stock worth $5,894. Company insiders own 5.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Assembly Biosciences

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ASMB. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 29.7% in 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. Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in Assembly Biosciences in the 2nd quarter worth about $6,421,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Assembly Biosciences by 39.2% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 54,911 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $753,000 after buying an additional 15,451 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 131.0% during the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 13,558 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $184,000 after buying an additional 7,690 shares in the last quarter. 19.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Assembly Biosciences Stock Performance

Shares of Assembly Biosciences stock traded up $0.03 on Friday, hitting $15.38. The company had a trading volume of 10,278 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,476. Assembly Biosciences has a 1 year low of $8.82 and a 1 year high of $19.93. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $16.42 and a 200-day moving average of $15.59.

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.