United Therapeutics Corporation $UTHR Stock Holdings Reduced by Pictet Asset Management Holding SA

Key Points

• Pictet Asset Management cut its United Therapeutics stake by 12%, selling 32,131 shares in the third quarter and retaining 235,721 shares valued at about $127.1 million.
• United Therapeutics’ third-quarter revenue rose 4.1% year over year to $832.5 million, beating estimates, while EPS of $5.71 missed consensus of $6.01 and fell from $7.16 a year earlier.
• The company authorized a $2 billion share-repurchase program; analysts’ average rating is “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $676.40.

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lowered its stake in United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 235,721 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 32,131 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA owned about 0.55% of United Therapeutics worth $127,073,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,868,735,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its stake in United Therapeutics by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 866,930 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $514,016,000 after acquiring an additional 70,829 shares during the period. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $450,140,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at approximately $159,522,000. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at approximately $154,304,000. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UTHR. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $697.00 to $725.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $710.00 to $695.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $700.00 to $703.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $515.00 to $566.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, UBS Group set a $725.00 price target on United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Thirteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $676.40.

United Therapeutics News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their price targets and kept bullish ratings. BTIG maintained a Buy rating with a $768 target, citing Tyvaso momentum; Royal Bank of Canada raised its target to $725 and TD Cowen to $700. BTIG analyst outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue increased 4.1% year over year to $832.5 million, exceeding analyst expectations of about $781 million. The company also has a $2 billion share-repurchase authorization, which could support demand for its shares.
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly EPS of $5.71 missed the $6.01 consensus and was below $7.16 a year earlier. The earnings shortfall and year-over-year decline in EPS could offset the revenue beat.
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt reported multiple share sales, while EVP Paul Mahon sold 8,300 shares. Insider sales can unsettle investors, although both executives retained substantial holdings after their transactions. CEO sale filing EVP sale filing

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ UTHR opened at $562.02 on Monday. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 12 month low of $444.04 and a 12 month high of $614.23. The stock has a market cap of $23.94 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.49. The stock's 50 day moving average is $533.99 and its 200 day moving average is $533.42.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 4th. The biotechnology company reported $5.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $6.01 by ($0.30). The company had revenue of $832.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $781.14 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 38.61% and a return on equity of 19.18%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $7.16 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 24.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Therapeutics declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, October 22nd that authorizes the company to repurchase $2 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biotechnology company to repurchase up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Share buyback plans are typically a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In related news, CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $526.96, for a total transaction of $5,006,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $170,968,483.28. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders have sold a total of 401,528 shares of company stock worth $213,440,124 in the last three months. 8.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

United Therapeutics Profile

United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes treatments for serious diseases, with a primary focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Its therapies include treprostinil products delivered by injection, inhalation, or oral tablet, marketed under brands including Remodulin, Tyvaso, and Orenitram. The company also markets Unituxin, a treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Founded in 1996 by Martine Rothblatt, United Therapeutics is also pursuing technologies intended to address the shortage of transplantable organs.

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