United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock: Insider Martine Rothblatt Sells 9,500 Shares

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $582.76, for a total transaction of $5,536,220.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $189,072,402.68. This represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

UTHR stock traded up $5.34 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $592.84. 559,175 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 557,910. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.43 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $519.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $539.93. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 52 week low of $409.07 and a 52 week high of $609.35.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.41 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Therapeutics announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 22nd that authorizes the company to buy back $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biotechnology company to repurchase up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Share buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Arjuna Capital raised its stake in United Therapeutics by 2.8% in the first quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 662 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $393,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC lifted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 474 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 5.4% during the 1st quarter. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC now owns 465 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $276,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 661 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kera Capital Partners Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Kera Capital Partners Inc. now owns 471 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $279,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on UTHR. Bank of America reduced their target price on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $728.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $515.00 to $566.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $717.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday, October 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “sell” rating and issued a $368.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $666.50.

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with life-threatening conditions, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company’s portfolio includes Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable treprostinil product; and Orenitram, an oral treprostinil therapy. These treatments are designed to improve exercise ability and delay disease progression in people with PAH.

The company also markets Unituxin, an antibody therapy used as part of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.