United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) Position Raised by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,114 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 1,922 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned approximately 0.08% of United Therapeutics worth $12,742,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth about $67,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 31.9% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Natixis purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth about $85,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

UTHR traded down $2.73 on Tuesday, reaching $308.07. 757,279 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 441,798. The company's 50 day moving average is $300.54 and its 200-day moving average is $341.52. The company has a market cap of $13.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.53, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.58. United Therapeutics Co. has a twelve month low of $264.33 and a twelve month high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.29 by $0.34. The firm had revenue of $794.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $726.82 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The company's revenue was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $6.17 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UTHR has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $346.00 to $348.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $314.00 target price (down previously from $395.00) on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, April 25th. HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $425.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $355.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $392.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.93, for a total transaction of $3,310,230.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,781 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,068,506.33. This represents a 23.02% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Tommy G. Thompson sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $318.80, for a total value of $797,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 8,480 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,703,424. This trade represents a 22.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 65,500 shares of company stock worth $20,765,280 in the last 90 days. 11.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation, a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of products to address the unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases in the United States and internationally. The company offers Tyvaso DPI, an inhaled dry powder via pre-filled and single-use cartridges; Tyvaso, an inhaled solution via ultrasonic nebulizer; Remodulin (treprostinil) injection to treat patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to diminish symptoms associated with exercise; Orenitram, a tablet dosage form of treprostinil, to delay disease progression and improve exercise capacity in PAH patients; and Adcirca, an oral PDE-5 inhibitor to enhance the exercise ability in PAH patients.