United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) EVP Paul Mahon Sells 8,300 Shares of Company Stock

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) EVP Paul Mahon sold 8,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $564.95, for a total transaction of $4,689,085.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 45,172 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,519,921.40. The trade was a 15.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of United Therapeutics stock traded up $29.49 during trading on Thursday, hitting $571.38. 1,691,487 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 538,503. The company has a market cap of $24.51 billion, a PE ratio of 20.44, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.56. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $509.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $539.39. United Therapeutics Corporation has a twelve month low of $409.07 and a twelve month high of $609.35.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $783.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 41.56% and a return on equity of 20.18%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.41 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.21 earnings per share for the current year.

United Therapeutics News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: A federal court in Delaware ruled that Liquidia’s Yutrepia infringes two United Therapeutics patent claims covering inhaled treprostinil for PH-ILD. The court also rejected Liquidia’s arguments that the claims were invalid. United Therapeutics Corporation Prevails in Patent Litigation Against Liquidia
• Positive Sentiment: The ruling could limit Yutrepia’s ability to compete in the PH-ILD market. United Therapeutics said it believes the decision may support an order requiring the FDA to withdraw Yutrepia’s approval until labeling excluding the PH-ILD indication is authorized, potentially reducing competitive pressure on Tyvaso and future cash flows. UTHR Prevails in LQDA’s Yutrepia Patent Dispute
• Positive Sentiment: Investors interpreted the legal victory as improving the durability of United Therapeutics’ pulmonary-hypertension franchise. The move was also supported by previously announced shareholder returns, including an accelerated share repurchase under the company’s remaining $2.0 billion authorization. Why United Therapeutics Stock Is Up Today
• Neutral Sentiment: The court ruling is a major development, but Liquidia may continue pursuing legal and regulatory options, so the ultimate timing and scope of any restrictions on Yutrepia remain uncertain. United Therapeutics Won Its Patent War and Liquidia Collapsed
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider-trading data shows substantial selling by executives, including CEO Martine Rothblatt. While the transactions may have been conducted under prearranged plans, the absence of insider purchases could temper investor confidence. United Therapeutics Insider Trading

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on UTHR. Bank of America cut their target price on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 price target on United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, September 24th. They set a “sell” rating and a $321.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $704.00 to $677.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $621.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $2,868,735,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 866,930 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $514,016,000 after purchasing an additional 70,829 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at $450,140,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at $293,418,000. Finally, Swedbank AB boosted its stake in United Therapeutics by 0.7% in the first quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 327,122 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $193,977,000 after purchasing an additional 2,350 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other serious cardiopulmonary conditions. The company’s products include Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable form of treprostinil; Orenitram, an oral treprostinil product; and Adcirca, a tadalafil-based PAH treatment.

United Therapeutics markets its therapies primarily in the United States and internationally through commercial and regulatory activities in additional markets.