United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Hits New 1-Year High – Time to Buy?

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $609.35 and last traded at $592.1440, with a volume of 73001 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $572.20.

United Therapeutics News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised targets and maintain a mostly constructive view — multiple firms (UBS, BofA, Cantor Fitzgerald, Oppenheimer and others) have lifted price targets in recent months, leaving a consensus “Moderate Buy” and an average target near $600, supporting upside expectations. MarketBeat UTHR coverage
• Positive Sentiment: Company highlighted continuing clinical progress — the Q1 release references positive results from its ADVANCE O program, which could underpin longer?term revenue and pipeline upside if follow?on regulatory or commercial steps progress. Business Wire: Q1 results
• Positive Sentiment: Large institutional stakes rising and high institutional ownership (~94%) — recent SEC/13F activity shows major funds increasing positions, which can provide stability and a potential demand floor for the shares. MarketBeat UTHR coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Company posted Q1 slides and conference?call materials — useful for investors wanting detail on revenue drivers, margin trends and pipeline timing; review the slide deck and call transcript for management’s cadence on growth initiatives. Slide deck
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 EPS and revenue missed expectations — United Therapeutics reported $5.82 EPS vs. consensus near $6.7–7.0 and revenue of $781.5M vs. estimates around $797M; revenue declined ~2% year?over?year, which is the primary near?term negative catalyst for the stock. Zacks: Q1 miss
• Negative Sentiment: Insider selling by top executives — CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares and the CFO sold 10,000 shares in early May; while insider sales can be for many reasons, they can create short?term perception pressure. InsiderTrades: CEO sale

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen boosted their price target on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on United Therapeutics from $471.00 to $519.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. HC Wainwright upped their target price on United Therapeutics from $600.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on United Therapeutics from $486.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $601.50.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $24.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.91, a PEG ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.60. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $545.81 and a 200 day moving average of $499.25.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The biotechnology company reported $5.82 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.00 by ($1.18). United Therapeutics had a net margin of 41.94% and a return on equity of 19.30%. The company had revenue of $781.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $797.40 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.63 EPS. United Therapeutics’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 27.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at United Therapeutics

In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $576.97, for a total value of $5,481,215.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 40,513 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,374,785.61. This represents a 19.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO James Edgemond sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $576.93, for a total value of $5,769,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 18,876 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $10,890,130.68. The trade was a 34.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 475,655 shares of company stock valued at $259,911,459. 10.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the first quarter worth approximately $1,096,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in United Therapeutics by 8.7% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,247 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $739,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in United Therapeutics by 39.8% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 146,524 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $83,558,000 after acquiring an additional 41,739 shares during the period. Aware Super Pty Ltd as trustee of Aware Super purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the first quarter worth approximately $43,009,000. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its position in United Therapeutics by 18.1% in the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 915 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $543,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of unique products to address life-threatening illnesses. The company’s primary focus has been on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where it has launched several therapies designed to improve functional capacity and quality of life for patients. Its marketed products include continuous infusion treprostinil (Remodulin), inhaled treprostinil (Tyvaso), oral treprostinil (Orenitram) and tadalafil (Adcirca), each tailored to different modes of administration and patient needs.