National Pension Service Lowers Position in United Therapeutics Corporation $UTHR

National Pension Service lessened its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 30,885 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 2,208 shares during the period. National Pension Service’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $16,734,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 141.7% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 145 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its stake in United Therapeutics by 18.8% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 443 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $277,000. Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in United Therapeutics by 77.3% in the second quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 12,843 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $3,691,000 after acquiring an additional 5,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 6.9% during the second quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 1,628 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $468,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $549.15, for a total value of $5,216,925.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 40,513 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $22,247,713.95. The trade was a 19.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO James Edgemond sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $540.15, for a total value of $5,401,500.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 18,876 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $10,195,871.40. This represents a 34.63% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 384,075 shares of company stock worth $202,367,758. Insiders own 8.60% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UTHR. Weiss Ratings downgraded United Therapeutics from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 target price on United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 6th. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. 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 report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $646.00.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UTHR opened at $497.11 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.32 billion, a PE ratio of 17.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $520.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $540.30. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 1 year low of $396.12 and a 1 year 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, topping the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 41.56% and a return on equity of 20.18%. The company had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $804.65 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.41 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for serious and life-threatening conditions, with a primary emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company’s products are designed to improve pulmonary blood flow and reduce the effects of this progressive disease.

United Therapeutics’ PAH portfolio includes Remodulin (treprostinil) injection, Orenitram (treprostinil) extended-release tablets, and Tyvaso (treprostinil), which is available as an inhalation solution and as the Tyvaso DPI dry-powder inhaler.