Amundi Acquires 71,495 Shares of United Therapeutics Corporation $UTHR

Key Points

• Amundi increased its United Therapeutics stake by 48.4% in the second quarter, acquiring 71,495 shares and bringing its holdings to 219,094 shares valued at approximately $118.7 million.
• United Therapeutics posted adjusted earnings of $7.27 per share, beating estimates, but revenue of $783.3 million missed expectations and declined 1.9% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a favorable outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $646, although insider selling and the stock’s position below its moving averages remain potential concerns.

Amundi increased its holdings in United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 48.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 219,094 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after acquiring an additional 71,495 shares during the quarter. Amundi owned about 0.51% of United Therapeutics worth $118,712,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Toth Financial Advisory Corp lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 2,400.0% during the second quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 50 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at $30,000. Entrust Financial LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter worth $37,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 426.7% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 79 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR opened at $506.82 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $523.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $540.39. The firm has a market cap of $21.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.13, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.56. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1-year low of $395.00 and a 1-year high of $609.35.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $804.65 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.41 EPS. The company's revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Key United Therapeutics News

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

• Positive Sentiment: United Therapeutics entered a $477.6 million accelerated share repurchase agreement, representing the remainder of its previously authorized $2.0 billion buyback. The program should reduce shares outstanding and increase remaining shareholders’ ownership and per-share earnings. United Therapeutics Corporation Announces Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement for Remainder of $2.0 Billion Authorization
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with 11 Buy ratings and two Holds and a reported average price target of $646, well above the stock’s recent trading level. This supports the view that UTHR’s pulmonary arterial hypertension franchise and pipeline retain meaningful value.
• Neutral Sentiment: Management presented at the Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference and the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference. The supplied reports do not identify a major new announcement, guidance change, or clinical update, so the presentations appear unlikely to create a significant near-term catalyst. Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt disclosed sales of 9,500 UTHR shares for approximately $4.74 million at an average price of $499.03. A separate report describes another 9,500-share sale for about $4.65 million at $489.20. Each transaction reduced her direct ownership by 2.84%; while such sales may be personal or scheduled, repeated insider selling can weigh on sentiment. United Therapeutics Executive Share Sale
• Negative Sentiment: The latest quarterly results were mixed: earnings per share exceeded estimates, but revenue of $783.3 million missed expectations of $804.65 million and declined 1.9% year over year. The stock also remains below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating continued technical pressure.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $549.15, for a total value of $5,216,925.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 40,513 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $22,247,713.95. The trade was a 19.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO James Edgemond sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $540.15, for a total value of $5,401,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 18,876 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,195,871.40. This represents a 34.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 384,075 shares of company stock worth $202,738,638 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 8.60% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UTHR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America lowered their price target 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. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $704.00 to $677.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $646.00.

United Therapeutics 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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