United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Sells $3,710,500.00 in Stock

United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $371.05, for a total value of $3,710,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at $956,195.85. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

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

• On Monday, February 10th, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $348.06, for a total value of $3,480,600.00.
• On Monday, February 3rd, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.64, for a total value of $3,536,400.00.
• On Monday, January 27th, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.71, for a total transaction of $3,707,100.00.
• On Tuesday, January 21st, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $364.91, for a total transaction of $3,649,100.00.
• On Monday, January 13th, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $364.62, for a total transaction of $3,646,200.00.
• On Monday, December 30th, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.68, for a total value of $3,566,800.00.
• On Monday, December 23rd, Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $361.95, for a total value of $3,619,500.00.
• 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.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of UTHR stock traded up $7.95 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $380.78. The company had a trading volume of 531,800 shares, compared to its average volume of 335,179. United Therapeutics Co. has a 52-week low of $213.75 and a 52-week high of $417.82. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $362.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $359.74. The stock has a market cap of $17.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.72, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.57.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UTHR. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. HC Wainwright increased their target price on United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $382.08.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Creative Planning lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 3,935 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,410,000 after acquiring an additional 322 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in United Therapeutics by 90.4% in the third quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 1,664 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $596,000 after purchasing an additional 790 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $240,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 45.1% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,405 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $503,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates increased its position in United Therapeutics by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 35,751 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $12,811,000 after purchasing an additional 609 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is currently 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.