United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Michael Benkowitz Sells 22,500 Shares

Key Points

• Michael Benkowitz, COO of United Therapeutics, sold 22,500 shares of the company’s stock on October 20 at an average price of $427.41 for a total of $9,616,725.
• The company’s stock has seen a 2.3% decrease recently, trading at $422.53, and has a market capitalization of $19.06 billion.
• Analysts have set a consensus price target of $461.62 for United Therapeutics, with multiple firms raising their price objectives significantly in recent reports.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) COO Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $427.41, for a total transaction of $9,616,725.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

Michael Benkowitz also recently made the following trade(s):

• On Monday, October 13th, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $440.35, for a total transaction of $9,907,875.00.
• On Monday, October 6th, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $450.24, for a total transaction of $10,130,400.00.
• On Monday, September 29th, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $421.80, for a total transaction of $9,490,500.00.
• On Monday, September 22nd, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $416.35, for a total transaction of $9,367,875.00.
• On Monday, September 15th, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $400.56, for a total transaction of $9,012,600.00.
• On Monday, September 8th, Michael Benkowitz sold 5,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $392.21, for a total transaction of $1,961,050.00.
• On Tuesday, September 9th, Michael Benkowitz sold 11,375 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $397.41, for a total transaction of $4,520,538.75.
• On Tuesday, September 2nd, Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $417.64, for a total transaction of $9,396,900.00.

United Therapeutics Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of UTHR stock traded down $10.16 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $422.53. The company's stock had a trading volume of 429,126 shares, compared to its average volume of 593,983. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $388.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $329.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.06 billion, a PE ratio of 16.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.72 and a beta of 0.66. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 12-month low of $266.98 and a 12-month high of $459.48.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on UTHR shares. Oppenheimer raised their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $510.00 to $575.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $432.00 to $564.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $314.00 to $463.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $330.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $461.62.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of UTHR. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. WealthCollab LLC lifted its position in United Therapeutics by 55.9% in the 2nd quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 106 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its position in United Therapeutics by 76.7% in the 2nd 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 stake in United Therapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in United Therapeutics by 141.7% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 145 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About United Therapeutics

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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