United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Cut to Buy at StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning.

A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on UTHR. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. HC Wainwright increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $378.36.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UTHR opened at $364.97 on Wednesday. United Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $208.62 and a 52-week high of $417.82. The company has a market capitalization of $16.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a fifty day moving average of $370.68 and a 200-day moving average of $351.87.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.16 by $0.23. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The company had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $722.62 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.38 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that United Therapeutics will post 25.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO James Edgemond sold 7,792 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.88, for a total value of $2,773,016.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 5,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,093,997.92. This trade represents a 56.98 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.63, for a total transaction of $192,081.30. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,384,115.25. The trade was a 12.19 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 142,422 shares of company stock worth $53,498,732 in the last three months. Company insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tri Locum Partners LP bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $15,959,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in United Therapeutics by 35.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 192,546 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $68,999,000 after buying an additional 50,291 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in United Therapeutics by 97.7% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 250,719 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $89,532,000 after acquiring an additional 123,929 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 384.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 61,755 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $22,130,000 after acquiring an additional 49,003 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Glenmede Trust Co. NA grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 6.4% in the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 68,605 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $24,585,000 after acquiring an additional 4,145 shares in 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.