United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Sets New 52-Week High - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• United Therapeutics stock reached a new 52-week high at $459.48 during trading, reflecting strong market interest with 610,683 shares changing hands.
• Analysts are optimistic about the company's future, with multiple firms raising their price targets, including Cantor Fitzgerald's increase from $405 to $525 and UBS from $560 to $580.
• Despite a revenue increase of 11.7% year-over-year, United Therapeutics reported earnings per share (EPS) of $6.41, missing expectations, which has led to various insights into insider trading activities.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $459.48 and last traded at $456.84, with a volume of 610683 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $453.28.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on UTHR. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $405.00 to $525.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $560.00 to $580.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 29th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Saturday, September 27th. HC Wainwright upped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $500.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, September 5th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, September 26th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $569.00 price objective on the stock. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $449.57.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 0.8%

The firm has a market capitalization of $20.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.91 and a beta of 0.66. The company's 50 day moving average is $362.60 and its 200-day moving average is $320.98.

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

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In other United Therapeutics news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 22,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $417.64, for a total transaction of $9,396,900.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.75, for a total transaction of $3,396,250.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 36,781 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,356,133.75. The trade was a 23.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 264,935 shares of company stock worth $105,282,642. Corporate insiders own 10.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in United Therapeutics by 11.1% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,147 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $481,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in United Therapeutics by 3.2% during the second quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 17,800 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $5,115,000 after buying an additional 544 shares during the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp raised its holdings in United Therapeutics by 7.2% during the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 51,394 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $14,768,000 after buying an additional 3,440 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 271.0% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 46,082 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $14,027,000 after purchasing an additional 33,662 shares during the last quarter. Finally, China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.6% in the second quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 9,059 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $2,603,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.08% of the company's stock.

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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