Insider Selling: United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Sells $4,698,225.00 in Stock

Key Points

• United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for approximately $4.70 million at an average price of $494.55, reducing her direct ownership by 2.84% to 324,443 shares.
• Shares recently traded at $497.59, with a market capitalization of $21.34 billion; the stock remains below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages and has ranged from $409.07 to $609.35 over the past year.
• The company exceeded quarterly earnings expectations with $7.27 in EPS versus $6.86 expected, although revenue declined 1.9% year over year. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $646.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $494.55, for a total value of $4,698,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $160,453,285.65. This represents a 2.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of United Therapeutics stock traded up $4.49 on Tuesday, hitting $497.59. 392,857 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 516,339. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1 year low of $409.07 and a 1 year high of $609.35. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $514.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $540.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.34 billion, a PE ratio of 17.80, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.56.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 the consensus estimate of $804.65 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $6.41 earnings per share. The business'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 26.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on UTHR shares. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $704.00 to $677.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Weiss Ratings lowered United Therapeutics from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price 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. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $646.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 2,400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 50 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the period. Fiduciary Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter worth $30,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at $37,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 3,333.3% in the 4th quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 103 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Company 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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