United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus on United Therapeutics, with 11 buy ratings and two hold ratings among 13 firms. The average 12-month price target is $646, above the reported share price of $500.35.
• Insiders sold substantial shares: company insiders sold 364,803 shares worth approximately $191.3 million over the past 90 days, while insiders retain an 8.6% ownership stake. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the stock.
• United Therapeutics exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $7.27 versus the $6.86 consensus estimate, although revenue of $783.3 million fell short of estimates and declined 1.9% year over year. Analysts expect full-year EPS of $26.21.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $646.00.

UTHR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 target price on United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Weiss Ratings downgraded United Therapeutics from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. TD Cowen reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price target on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th.

Insider Transactions at United Therapeutics

In other United Therapeutics news, Director Nilda Mesa sold 228 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.87, for a total value of $115,338.36. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 5,580 shares in the company, valued at $2,822,754.60. The trade was a 3.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $504.12, for a total transaction of $4,789,140.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $163,558,205.16. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 364,803 shares of company stock worth $191,315,812 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 8.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arjuna Capital increased its position in United Therapeutics by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Arjuna Capital now owns 662 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $393,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the period. Sage Rhino Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 474 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $281,000 after purchasing an additional 23 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 5.4% in the 1st quarter. Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors LLC now owns 465 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake 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 valued at $392,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kera Capital Partners Inc. boosted its stake 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 valued at $279,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR opened at $500.35 on Wednesday. United Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $397.00 and a 1 year high of $609.35. The company has a market capitalization of $21.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.56. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $518.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $540.72.

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

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for serious and life-threatening conditions, with a primary emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company's products are designed to improve pulmonary blood flow and reduce the effects of this progressive disease.

United Therapeutics' PAH portfolio includes Remodulin (treprostinil) injection, Orenitram (treprostinil) extended-release tablets, and Tyvaso (treprostinil), which is available as an inhalation solution and as the Tyvaso DPI dry-powder inhaler.

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