United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Shares Down 3.4% After Insider Selling

United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)’s stock price traded down 3.4% during mid-day trading on Wednesday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as $236.07 and last traded at $239.32. 136,394 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 66% from the average session volume of 400,432 shares. The stock had previously closed at $247.86.

Specifically, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $248.33, for a total transaction of $3,724,950.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares in the company, valued at $32,282.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.33, for a total transaction of $3,724,950.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,282.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $218.72, for a total value of $1,312,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,599 shares in the company, valued at $8,004,933.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 76,680 shares of company stock worth $17,886,630. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $309.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. SVB Leerink began coverage on United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 5th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $330.00 price objective for the company. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $308.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, Leerink Partnrs restated an “outperform” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $294.40.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $225.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $227.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 4.41 and a quick ratio of 4.28. The firm has a market cap of $10.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.58 and a beta of 0.52.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The biotechnology company reported $4.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.28 by $0.08. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 17.72% and a net margin of 42.31%. The company had revenue of $614.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $575.01 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.67 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 25.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 23.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth approximately $43,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at $48,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 49.6% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 196 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the first quarter worth $66,000. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.