United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Trading Down 4.8% Following Insider Selling

Key Points

• United Therapeutics' stock dropped 4.8% to $385.45 after insider Christopher Causey sold 3,000 shares, representing a 38.14% reduction in his holdings.
• Analysts have mixed views on the stock, with price targets ranging from $330 to $463, while the consensus rating remains a Moderate Buy.
• In its recent quarterly earnings, United Therapeutics reported $6.41 earnings per share, falling short of analyst estimates and marking an 11.7% revenue increase year-over-year.

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) traded down 4.8% during trading on Wednesday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $385.50 and last traded at $385.45. 497,022 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 9% from the average session volume of 547,000 shares. The stock had previously closed at $404.81.

Specifically, Director Christopher Causey sold 3,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $423.21, for a total transaction of $1,269,630.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 4,865 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,058,916.65. This trade represents a 38.14% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $330.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on United Therapeutics from $295.00 to $414.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday. HC Wainwright set a $400.00 target price on United Therapeutics and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. UBS Group upped their price target on United Therapeutics from $385.00 to $415.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on United Therapeutics from $314.00 to $463.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $412.69.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 4.7%

The business has a 50 day moving average of $301.33 and a 200-day moving average of $305.46. The stock has a market cap of $17.41 billion, a PE ratio of 15.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.62 and a beta of 0.62.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued 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). United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 18.73% and a net margin of 40.36%.The business had revenue of $798.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $802.13 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.85 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 24.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at about $29,000. WealthCollab LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 55.9% during the second quarter. WealthCollab LLC now owns 106 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 76.7% during the second quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 106 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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