Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST) Short Interest Up 8.6% in December

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 10,480,000 shares, a growth of 8.6% from the December 15th total of 9,650,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,550,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 6.8 days.

Aquestive Therapeutics Price Performance

Aquestive Therapeutics stock opened at $3.10 on Friday. Aquestive Therapeutics has a 12-month low of $2.24 and a 12-month high of $6.23. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $3.97 and a 200 day moving average of $4.18.

Aquestive Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AQST) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.12) by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $13.54 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.69 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.03) EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Aquestive Therapeutics will post -0.46 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on AQST shares. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $17.00 price target for the company. JMP Securities reiterated a “market outperform” rating and set a $9.00 target price on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $10.00 price target on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, Leerink Partners increased their target price on Aquestive Therapeutics from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $11.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Aquestive Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new stake in Aquestive Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $76,000. Harvey Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at approximately $88,000. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Institutional investors own 32.45% of the company’s stock.

About Aquestive Therapeutics

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc operates as a pharmaceutical company in the United States and internationally. The company markets Sympazan, an oral soluble film formulation of clobazam for the treatment of lennox-gastaut syndrome; Suboxone, a sublingual film formulation of buprenorphine and naloxone for the treatment of opioid dependence; Zuplenz, an oral soluble film formulation of ondansetron for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and post-operative recovery; and Azstarys, a once-daily product for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.