Wedge Capital Management L L P NC Acquires 27,829 Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 35.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 107,276 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after acquiring an additional 27,829 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC owned 0.24% of United Therapeutics worth $33,070,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bleakley Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 58.1% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 1,059 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $374,000 after buying an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Savant Capital LLC boosted its stake in United Therapeutics by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 10,205 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $3,601,000 after acquiring an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. JSF Financial LLC grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. JSF Financial LLC now owns 2,996 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,057,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 12,400 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $4,375,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

United Therapeutics stock traded up $2.58 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $328.40. 541,269 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 439,644. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $301.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $333.13. The firm has a market cap of $14.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.57. United Therapeutics Co. has a 52 week low of $266.98 and a 52 week high of $417.82.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, June 2nd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $405.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on United Therapeutics from $355.00 to $350.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 1st. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $425.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, May 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and set a $314.00 price target (down previously from $395.00) on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded United Therapeutics from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $314.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $393.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Therapeutics news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.18, for a total value of $3,367,980.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,781 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,261,606.58. This represents a 23.02% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Tommy G. Thompson sold 2,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $318.80, for a total value of $797,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 8,480 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,703,424. This represents a 22.77% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 56,500 shares of company stock valued at $16,923,950 over the last ninety days. 10.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

United Therapeutics 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.