Insider Selling: United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Sells 10,000 Shares of Stock

United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $361.95, for a total value of $3,619,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at $932,745.15. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

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

• On Monday, November 25th, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $372.75, for a total transaction of $3,727,500.00.
• On Monday, November 11th, Michael Benkowitz sold 15,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $407.32, for a total transaction of $6,109,800.00.
• On Thursday, November 7th, Michael Benkowitz sold 15,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $401.44, for a total transaction of $6,021,600.00.
• On Friday, November 1st, Michael Benkowitz sold 14,700 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.46, for a total value of $5,504,562.00.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 0.9 %

UTHR traded up $3.23 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $364.10. The company had a trading volume of 207,650 shares, compared to its average volume of 446,001. The company has a market capitalization of $16.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.99, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.55. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $371.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $347.25. United Therapeutics Co. has a 52 week low of $208.62 and a 52 week high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.16 by $0.23. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The business had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $722.62 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.38 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 25.22 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 35.2% during the second quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 33,943 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $10,813,000 after buying an additional 8,833 shares during the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 92.4% in the second quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 2,768 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $882,000 after purchasing an additional 1,329 shares during the last quarter. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $6,220,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 23.0% during the second quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 582 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $185,000 after buying an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Argus raised their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. HC Wainwright boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. StockNews.com cut shares of United Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $370.86.

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.