Aquestive Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AQST) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Sell”

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Aquestive Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AQST) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Saturday morning,Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on AQST. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $10.00 target price on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a report on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $11.00 target price on shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $8.75.

Aquestive Therapeutics Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of AQST opened at $3.61 on Friday. Aquestive Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $2.93 and a 1 year high of $6.74. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.21. The stock has a market cap of $453.74 million, a PE ratio of -5.64 and a beta of 1.49.

Aquestive Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AQST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 3rd. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.12) by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $7.56 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.02 million. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Aquestive Therapeutics will post -0.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Aquestive Therapeutics

In other Aquestive Therapeutics news, CEO Daniel Barber sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $4.22, for a total transaction of $105,500.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 627,317 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,647,277.74. This represents a 3.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider Sherry Korczynski sold 8,750 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.22, for a total transaction of $45,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 235,689 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,230,296.58. The trade was a 3.58% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 58,750 shares of company stock worth $271,675. Insiders own 6.81% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Aquestive Therapeutics

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Aquestive Therapeutics by 14.7% during the third quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 22,901 shares of the company’s stock worth $107,000 after buying an additional 2,936 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics by 27.0% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 22,895 shares of the company’s stock worth $95,000 after buying an additional 4,870 shares during the period. Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics by 52.8% during the 1st quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 18,014 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,000 after buying an additional 6,221 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Engineers Gate Manager LP increased its stake in shares of Aquestive Therapeutics by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 49,879 shares of the company’s stock valued at $207,000 after acquiring an additional 8,496 shares during the last quarter. 32.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Aquestive Therapeutics

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products that use its proprietary PharmFilm oral film technology. The company’s films are designed to deliver medicines through the mouth, potentially offering alternatives to tablets, capsules, injections, or other conventional dosage forms.

Aquestive’s marketed products include Libervant (diazepam buccal film), an FDA-approved treatment for the acute, intermittent, and stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity associated with epilepsy, and Exservan (riluzole oral film), an FDA-approved treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.