Insider Selling: United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Sells $4,568,075.00 in Stock

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $480.85, for a total transaction of $4,568,075.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $156,008,416.55. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

United Therapeutics Trading Up 5.4%

NASDAQ UTHR opened at $571.38 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.44, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.49. The business’s 50 day moving average is $510.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $539.64. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 12-month low of $409.07 and a 12-month high of $609.35.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%.The business had revenue of $783.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $804.65 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.41 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

More United Therapeutics News

Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: A Delaware federal court found that Liquidia’s Yutrepia infringes two United Therapeutics patents covering inhaled treprostinil for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD). The court also rejected Liquidia’s arguments that the patent claims were invalid, strengthening the outlook for United Therapeutics’ Tyvaso products. United Therapeutics Corporation Prevails in Patent Litigation Against Liquidia
• Positive Sentiment: The ruling may limit Yutrepia’s ability to compete in the PH-ILD market and could support a request for the FDA to withdraw or restrict approval of Yutrepia until labeling excluding the disputed indication is approved. Investors therefore see a potentially longer period of market protection and more durable cash flow for the Tyvaso franchise. UTHR Prevails in LQDA’s Yutrepia Patent Dispute
• Neutral Sentiment: The legal victory is not necessarily the end of the dispute, and further proceedings, appeals, or regulatory actions could affect how quickly United Therapeutics benefits commercially. Analyst commentary has also turned more favorable, adding support to the move, although specific details on the latest recommendation were limited. United Therapeutics Analyst Turns Bullish
• Negative Sentiment: Several insiders sold shares, including CEO Martine Rothblatt, who sold a combined 9,500 shares, and EVP Paul Mahon, who sold 8,300 shares. These transactions reduced their holdings but may have been conducted under prearranged trading plans; they are a modest counterpoint to the positive litigation news rather than evidence of a change in business outlook. SEC insider transaction filing

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UTHR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, September 24th. They issued a “sell” rating and a $321.00 target price for the company. Bank of America decreased their price target on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $621.00.

Institutional Trading of United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UTHR. Callan Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter worth about $1,217,000. Nicholas Investment Partners LP lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 478.5% during the fourth quarter. Nicholas Investment Partners LP now owns 4,553 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $2,218,000 after buying an additional 3,766 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the second quarter worth approximately $3,359,000. Havemeyer Place LP acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,189,000. Finally, Seven Fleet Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $633,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other serious cardiopulmonary conditions. The company’s products include Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable form of treprostinil; Orenitram, an oral treprostinil product; and Adcirca, a tadalafil-based PAH treatment.

United Therapeutics markets its therapies primarily in the United States and internationally through commercial and regulatory activities in additional markets.