Morgan Stanley Issues Positive Forecast for United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock Price

Key Points

• Morgan Stanley raised United Therapeutics’ price target from $515 to $566 while maintaining an “equal weight” rating, implying about 2.26% upside. Analysts overall assign the stock a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with a $624.92 average target.
• United Therapeutics shares rose to $553.51, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $23.74 billion. In its latest quarter, the company beat earnings expectations with $7.27 EPS, although revenue declined 1.9% year over year and fell short of estimates.
• Company insiders sold substantial holdings, including shares sold by the CEO and an executive vice president; insiders sold roughly $188.1 million of stock during the last quarter. Institutional investors continue to own the majority of shares, at 94.08%.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by investment analysts at Morgan Stanley from $515.00 to $566.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "equal weight" rating on the biotechnology company's stock. Morgan Stanley's target price would indicate a potential upside of 2.26% from the stock's current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Bank of America lowered their price objective on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, October 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, September 24th. They set a "sell" rating and a $321.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Thursday, August 27th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $624.92.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR stock traded up $11.89 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $553.51. 131,564 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 544,131. The company has a 50-day moving average of $510.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $539.74. The company has a market capitalization of $23.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.49. United Therapeutics has a twelve month low of $409.07 and a twelve month high of $609.35.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.86 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $783.30 million for 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.41 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that United Therapeutics will post 26.21 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In related news, EVP Paul Mahon sold 8,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The shares were 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. This represents a 15.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, October 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $541.64, for a total transaction of $5,145,580.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $175,731,306.52. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 365,053 shares of company stock valued at $188,058,343 in the last quarter. 8.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Callan Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,217,000. Nicholas Investment Partners LP raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 478.5% in the 4th quarter. Nicholas Investment Partners LP now owns 4,553 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $2,218,000 after purchasing an additional 3,766 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $3,359,000. Andra AP fonden lifted its stake in United Therapeutics by 33.5% in the second quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 34,904 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $18,912,000 after purchasing an additional 8,760 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Seven Fleet Capital Management LP bought a new position in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at $633,000. 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.

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