Short Interest in Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB) Increases By 37.1%

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

Assembly Biosciences Stock Performance

Shares of ASMB traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $15.38. 10,278 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 33,699. Assembly Biosciences has a 1 year low of $8.82 and a 1 year high of $19.93. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $16.43 and its 200-day moving average is $15.60.

Insider Transactions at Assembly Biosciences

In other news, major shareholder Alexander Schornstein purchased 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 8th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $14.58 per share, with a total value of $145,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 703,113 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,251,387.54. This represents a 1.44 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 394 shares of company stock valued at $5,894. 5.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Assembly Biosciences

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASMB. Armistice Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Assembly Biosciences during the second quarter worth $6,421,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised 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 worth $753,000 after acquiring an additional 15,451 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 7,690 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC grew its stake in Assembly Biosciences by 29.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,855 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 3,635 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 19.92% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

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.