Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Increases Holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 43.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 73,405 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after buying an additional 22,155 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned about 0.16% of United Therapeutics worth $16,141,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 3,731 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $820,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. increased its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 1,527 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $336,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC now owns 5,644 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,241,000 after acquiring an additional 238 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in United Therapeutics by 309.7% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 134,162 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $29,501,000 after acquiring an additional 101,419 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $683,000. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on UTHR shares. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on United Therapeutics from $218.00 to $240.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday. SVB Leerink began coverage on United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 5th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $330.00 price target for the company. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $308.78.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 1.7 %

UTHR traded up $4.27 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $262.40. 779,523 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 541,180. The company has a quick ratio of 4.28, a current ratio of 3.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1-year low of $204.44 and a 1-year high of $262.51. The stock's 50-day moving average is $236.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $229.40. The stock has a market cap of $11.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.41 and a beta of 0.54.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The biotechnology company reported $6.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.63 by $0.54. The company had revenue of $677.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $620.31 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 42.05% and a return on equity of 18.72%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 33.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.86 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 23.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Therapeutics news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.09, for a total value of $929,124.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 130 shares in the company, valued at $33,551.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other United Therapeutics news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.09, for a total value of $929,124.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares in the company, valued at $33,551.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 6,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.31, for a total transaction of $1,291,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,599 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,880,130.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 141,790 shares of company stock worth $33,572,685. Corporate insiders own 12.50% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics 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.