United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Sells 9,500 Shares of Company Stock

Key Points

• CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 United Therapeutics shares at an average price of $544.94, generating approximately $5.18 million. Her remaining stake totals 324,443 shares, worth about $176.8 million.
• United Therapeutics recently reported quarterly EPS of $7.27, beating estimates of $6.86, while revenue of $783.3 million fell short of expectations and declined 1.9% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus, with an average price target of $627.31; however, ratings range from Goldman Sachs’ $321 sell target to RBC’s $708 outperform target.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.94, for a total transaction of $5,176,930.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $176,801,968.42. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR traded down $6.70 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $543.40. 504,426 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 554,931. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1 year low of $409.07 and a 1 year high of $609.35. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $512.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $540.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.49.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $804.65 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 41.56% and a return on equity of 20.18%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.41 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.40 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $677.00 to $708.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, September 24th. They issued a "sell" rating and a $321.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Bank of America lowered their target price on 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 investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $627.31.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $2,868,735,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew 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 valued at $514,016,000 after acquiring an additional 70,829 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $450,140,000. Swedbank AB grew its stake in United Therapeutics by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 327,122 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $193,977,000 after acquiring an additional 2,350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its holdings in United Therapeutics by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 309,220 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $183,306,000 after acquiring an additional 2,383 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other serious cardiopulmonary conditions. The company's products include Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable form of treprostinil; Orenitram, an oral treprostinil product; and Adcirca, a tadalafil-based PAH treatment.

United Therapeutics markets its therapies primarily in the United States and internationally through commercial and regulatory activities in additional markets.

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