United Therapeutics Corporation $UTHR Stock Purchased by Profund Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Profund Advisors increased its United Therapeutics stake by 51.7% in the third quarter, purchasing 1,776 additional shares for a total holding worth approximately $2.82 million. Institutional investors collectively own 94.08% of UTHR.
• United Therapeutics authorized a $2 billion share-repurchase program, allowing it to buy back up to 8.3% of outstanding shares. The company’s latest earnings beat estimates, though quarterly revenue declined 1.9% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $667.07 versus the stock’s reported $598.72 price. However, insiders sold roughly $205.2 million worth of shares during the latest quarter.

Profund Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 51.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,208 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after buying an additional 1,776 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLC's holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $2,822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 2,400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 50 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in United Therapeutics by 426.7% during the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 79 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PFS Partners LLC acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth about $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR stock opened at $598.72 on Monday. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1 year low of $430.02 and a 1 year high of $609.99. The business's 50-day moving average is $527.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $530.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.42, a P/E/G ratio of 4.33 and a beta of 0.49.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted 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 return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%. The firm had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.41 earnings per share. United Therapeutics's revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.09 EPS for the current year.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $728.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, October 14th. UBS Group set a $725.00 price objective on United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, October 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "sell" rating and issued a $368.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $515.00 to $566.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on United Therapeutics from $710.00 to $695.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 28th. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $667.07.

Insider Transactions at United Therapeutics

In other United Therapeutics news, EVP Paul Mahon sold 8,300 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.30, for a total value of $4,517,690.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 45,172 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,587,119.60. The trade was a 15.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $585.49, for a total transaction of $5,562,155.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at $189,958,132.07. 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 392,028 shares of company stock worth $205,194,921 in the last quarter. Insiders own 8.60% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with life-threatening conditions, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company's portfolio includes Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable treprostinil product; and Orenitram, an oral treprostinil therapy. These treatments are designed to improve exercise ability and delay disease progression in people with PAH.

The company also markets Unituxin, an antibody therapy used as part of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UTHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.