United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Rating Lowered to “Buy” at StockNews.com

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. HC Wainwright increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Argus lifted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $378.36.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of UTHR opened at $366.61 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $370.68 and a 200 day moving average of $351.87. The company has a market cap of $16.37 billion, a PE ratio of 16.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.57. United Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $208.62 and a 52-week high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.16 by $0.23. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The firm had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $722.62 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.38 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics will post 25.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at United Therapeutics

In related news, CFO James Edgemond sold 7,792 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.88, for a total value of $2,773,016.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 5,884 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,093,997.92. This trade represents a 56.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $367.36, for a total transaction of $2,828,672.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,485,785.60. This represents a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 142,422 shares of company stock valued at $53,498,732. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. ClariVest Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 120.0% during the 2nd quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 77 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. USA Financial Formulas purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

About United Therapeutics

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.