Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) saw a significant increase in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 11,600 shares, an increase of 45.0% from the October 31st total of 8,000 shares. Currently, 0.3% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 30,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Insider Transactions at Assembly Biosciences

In other news, major shareholder Alexander Schornstein acquired 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 8th. The stock was bought 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 owns 703,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,251,387.54. This represents a 1.44 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 394 shares of company stock valued at $5,894. Corporate insiders own 5.10% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Assembly Biosciences

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ASMB. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 131.0% during the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 13,558 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $184,000 after purchasing an additional 7,690 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 29.7% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,855 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 3,635 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of Assembly Biosciences by 39.2% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 54,911 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $753,000 after purchasing an additional 15,451 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Armistice Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Assembly Biosciences during the second quarter worth $6,421,000. 19.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on ASMB shares. HC Wainwright reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Assembly Biosciences in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Assembly Biosciences from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the company from $2.00 to $35.00 in a report on Friday, September 20th.

Assembly Biosciences Price Performance

ASMB stock traded up $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $17.04. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 23,048 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,169. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $16.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $15.51. Assembly Biosciences has a 52 week low of $8.40 and a 52 week high of $19.93.

About Assembly Biosciences

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.