Insider Selling: United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Sells 22,500 Shares of Stock

Key Points

• Michael Benkowitz, COO of United Therapeutics, sold 22,500 shares for approximately $9.4 million at an average price of $417.64.
• The company's quarterly earnings report showed earnings per share (EPS) of $6.41, missing estimates of $6.80, while revenue increased by 11.7% year-over-year.
• Most analysts maintain a positive outlook, with the consensus target price for United Therapeutics shares set at around $423.85.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) COO Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $417.64, for a total value of $9,396,900.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 1.1%

UTHR opened at $386.95 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.17, a P/E/G ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.62. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 12 month low of $266.98 and a 12 month high of $436.95. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $303.44 and its 200 day simple moving average is $306.06.

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

Institutional Trading of United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the second quarter worth $29,000. WealthCollab LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 55.9% in the 2nd quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 106 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 76.7% in the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 106 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently commented on UTHR shares. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. HC Wainwright set a $400.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $295.00 to $414.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $330.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $432.00 to $564.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $423.85.

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.

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