United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock Has Average Target Price of $674.00 According to Brokerages

Shares of United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and thirteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $676.40.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on UTHR shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $700.00 to $703.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $850.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, October 26th. BTIG Research raised their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $728.00 to $768.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings cut shares of United Therapeutics from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 27th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $675.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 1,960 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $597.76, for a total value of $1,171,609.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $193,939,047.68. This represents a 0.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 8,300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $598.67, for a total value of $4,968,961.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 45,172 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,043,121.24. This trade represents a 15.52% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 411,028 shares of company stock valued at $218,476,169. Insiders own 8.60% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UTHR. Aberdeen Group plc raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 9,760.9% during the third quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 50,981 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $27,626,000 after buying an additional 50,464 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 3.5% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,208 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $655,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 15.2% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 38,973 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $21,119,000 after buying an additional 5,137 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 40.6% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 86,239 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $45,617,000 after buying an additional 24,884 shares during the period. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its position in United Therapeutics by 10.0% during the third quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 2,407 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,304,000 after buying an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key United Therapeutics News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised their price targets and kept bullish ratings. BTIG maintained a Buy rating with a $768 target, citing Tyvaso momentum; Royal Bank of Canada raised its target to $725 and TD Cowen to $700. BTIG analyst outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue increased 4.1% year over year to $832.5 million, exceeding analyst expectations of about $781 million. The company also has a $2 billion share-repurchase authorization, which could support demand for its shares.
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly EPS of $5.71 missed the $6.01 consensus and was below $7.16 a year earlier. The earnings shortfall and year-over-year decline in EPS could offset the revenue beat.
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt reported multiple share sales, while EVP Paul Mahon sold 8,300 shares. Insider sales can unsettle investors, although both executives retained substantial holdings after their transactions. CEO sale filing EVP sale filing

United Therapeutics Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of UTHR opened at $562.02 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $533.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $533.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.94 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.49. United Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $444.04 and a 52-week high of $614.23.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 4th. The biotechnology company reported $5.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.01 by ($0.30). The firm had revenue of $832.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $781.14 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 38.61% and a return on equity of 19.18%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $7.16 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that United Therapeutics will post 24.77 EPS for the current year.

United Therapeutics announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 22nd that authorizes the company to repurchase $2 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biotechnology company to buy up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

United Therapeutics Company Profile

United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes treatments for serious diseases, with a primary focus on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Its therapies include treprostinil products delivered by injection, inhalation, or oral tablet, marketed under brands including Remodulin, Tyvaso, and Orenitram. The company also markets Unituxin, a treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Founded in 1996 by Martine Rothblatt, United Therapeutics is also pursuing technologies intended to address the shortage of transplantable organs.