Poplar Forest Capital LLC Reduces Position in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Poplar Forest Capital LLC decreased its holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 110,119 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 500 shares during the period. United Therapeutics comprises approximately 5.4% of Poplar Forest Capital LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest holding. Poplar Forest Capital LLC owned approximately 0.25% of United Therapeutics worth $39,461,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UTHR. ClariVest Asset Management LLC raised its stake in United Therapeutics by 120.0% in the second quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 77 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Trading Up 3.8 %

Shares of United Therapeutics stock opened at $397.49 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $357.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $320.37. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1-year low of $208.62 and a 1-year high of $399.23. The company has a market cap of $17.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.46, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.56.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.16 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $722.62 million. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.38 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Co. will post 25.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UTHR has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com raised United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Argus upped their target price on United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley downgraded United Therapeutics from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $310.00 to $321.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 11th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $370.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In other United Therapeutics news, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $1,384,115.25. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 14,700 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.46, for a total value of $5,504,562.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $964,983.42. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 3,675 shares in the company, valued at $1,384,115.25. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 81,422 shares of company stock worth $29,229,828. Insiders own 11.90% 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.