HC Wainwright Raises Earnings Forecast for Assembly Biosciences

On March 24th, 2025, HC Wainwright updated its earnings per share estimates for Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB – Free Report). According to a note from HC Wainwright analyst E. Arce, the forecast for Q1 2025 has been adjusted to anticipate a loss of ($1.54) per share, a notable improvement from the previous estimate of ($1.95).

HC Wainwright currently holds a “Neutral” rating for Assembly Biosciences stock. The consensus forecast for the company’s full-year earnings stands at a loss of ($6.87) per share. In addition, HC Wainwright provided additional estimates for future quarters: Q2 2025 is projected to also be at ($1.54) EPS, while Q3 and Q4 2025 are expected to be at ($1.64) EPS and ($1.57) EPS, respectively. For the full fiscal years, it estimates FY2025 earnings will be at ($6.29) EPS, FY2026 at ($9.05) EPS, FY2027 at ($12.07) EPS, and FY2028 at ($12.32) EPS.

Recent Analyst Opinions

Other research analysts have also given their views on ASMB. For instance, StockNews.com downgraded Assembly Biosciences from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in their recent report. Meanwhile, Guggenheim initiated coverage on the company, opting for a “buy” rating and setting a price target of $31.00 for the stock.

Assembly Biosciences Stock Performance

As of the latest trading session on Wednesday, shares of Assembly Biosciences opened at $10.90. Over the past year, the stock has seen a low of $10.27 and a high of $19.93, reflecting a market capitalization of $81.78 million. The company has a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.62 and a beta of 0.62, indicating the volatility compared to the overall market. The fifty-day moving average stands at $12.63, while the 200-day moving average is at $14.99.

In its latest quarterly earnings report released on March 20th, Assembly Biosciences reported an EPS of ($1.57), surpassing the market expectation of ($1.75) by $0.18. The company recorded revenues of $7.36 million for the quarter, exceeding analyst forecasts of $7.05 million, albeit with a negative net margin of 144.05% and a return on equity of -121.46%.

Institutional Investments

Recently, various institutional investors have adjusted their positions in Assembly Biosciences. Notably, Man Group plc acquired a new stake worth approximately $309,000 in the fourth quarter. B Group Inc. also purchased shares valued at about $799,000 during the same period. Additionally, Gilead Sciences Inc. invested significantly, acquiring a new stake worth around $34,865,000. Furthermore, Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake by 16.5%, now holding 14,823 shares valued at $234,000 after buying an additional 2,098 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC also boosted its investment by 44.3%, now owning 94,711 shares valued at $1,495,000. Overall, institutional investors control approximately 19.92% of the company's stock.

Insider Activities

In insider trading news, Director Michael Houghton purchased 3,202 shares on December 30th at an average price of $15.61 per share, bringing his total holdings to the same amount, with a current value of around $49,983. This acquisition represents a significant increase in his shares. This transaction has been documented in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Background on Assembly Biosciences

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical firm engaged in developing novel therapeutic candidates for viral diseases. Among its promising candidates are ABI-5366, which targets the herpes simplex virus in its Phase 1a/1b clinical trial, as well as ABI-1179 for the treatment of recurrent genital herpes. Additionally, ABI-6250 is being researched as an orally bioavailable entry inhibitor for the hepatitis delta virus, currently in its Phase 1a clinical trial.

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