United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock Holdings Cut by Nitorum Capital L.P.

Nitorum Capital L.P. lessened its holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 15.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 95,420 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 17,908 shares during the period. United Therapeutics accounts for approximately 3.9% of Nitorum Capital L.P.'s portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest holding. Nitorum Capital L.P. owned approximately 0.21% of United Therapeutics worth $33,668,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $67,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in United Therapeutics by 31.9% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Natixis purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $85,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC raised its position in United Therapeutics by 12.0% during the fourth quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $99,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of UTHR stock traded down $4.25 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $298.84. 170,136 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 447,772. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $304.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $345.39. United Therapeutics Co. has a 12-month low of $236.65 and a 12-month high of $417.82. The stock has a market cap of $13.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.12, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.63.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.29 by $0.34. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The firm had revenue of $794.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $726.82 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $6.17 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $371.05, for a total value of $3,710,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $956,195.85. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.18, for a total value of $3,367,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,781 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,261,606.58. The trade was a 23.02 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 74,500 shares of company stock worth $24,472,050. Insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Bank of America upgraded United Therapeutics from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $314.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $314.00 price objective (down previously from $395.00) on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Friday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $357.00 to $355.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. HC Wainwright reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $425.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $390.17.

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.