Rafferty Asset Management LLC Has $11.09 Million Stake in United Therapeutics Corporation $UTHR

Key Points

• Rafferty Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in United Therapeutics by 5.6%, owning 35,962 shares worth approximately $11.1 million as of its latest filing.
• United Therapeutics reported a last quarter EPS of $6.41, which fell short of the $6.80 consensus estimate, with revenues also slightly below expectations at $798.6 million.
• Insider selling has been notable, with CFO James Edgemond and Director Nilda Mesa recently reducing their positions significantly, indicating potential concerns about future stock performance.

Rafferty Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 5.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,962 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 2,122 shares during the quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC owned 0.08% of United Therapeutics worth $11,086,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at approximately $49,000. State of Wyoming bought a new position in United Therapeutics in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $62,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 103.2% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 193 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. HC Wainwright set a $400.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $348.00 to $328.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $321.00 to $315.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $330.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $382.00.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UTHR traded down $2.48 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $304.76. 418,774 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 695,087. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.90, a PEG ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.62. The business's fifty day moving average price is $298.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $305.23. United Therapeutics Corporation has a twelve month low of $266.98 and a twelve month high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.41 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $6.80 by ($0.39). The business had revenue of $798.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $802.13 million. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 18.73% and a net margin of 40.36%.United Therapeutics's revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.85 EPS. Analysts predict that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 24.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In related news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $279.96, for a total value of $3,079,560.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 36,781 shares in the company, valued at $10,297,208.76. The trade was a 23.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Richard Giltner sold 3,036 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.60, for a total transaction of $879,225.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 19,384 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,613,606.40. The trade was a 13.54% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 81,681 shares of company stock worth $24,537,839 in the last three months. 10.30% of the stock is currently 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.