United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock: Insider Martine Rothblatt Sells 9,500 Shares

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $539.99, for a total value of $5,129,905.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at $175,195,975.57. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

UTHR traded up $1.48 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $541.51. 521,194 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 556,576. United Therapeutics Corporation has a one year low of $409.07 and a one year high of $609.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.37, a PEG ratio of 3.89 and a beta of 0.49. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $513.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $540.32.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $783.30 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $6.41 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.40 earnings per share for the current year.

More United Therapeutics News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Six lawsuits resolved: United Therapeutics and Liquidia reached a global settlement covering all pending litigation over YUTREPIA, Liquidia’s inhaled treprostinil product. YUTREPIA will remain available to pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, but its permitted labeling is narrower than Liquidia had sought. United Therapeutics Settles Litigation And Resets Pulmonary Hypertension Competition
• Positive Sentiment: Improved competitive outlook: The settlement removes a major legal overhang and limits the scope of YUTREPIA’s label, potentially protecting United Therapeutics’ position in pulmonary arterial hypertension and other pulmonary hypertension markets. Liquidia is reportedly responsible for up to approximately $380.7 million in settlement-related payments, although the exact timing and structure are important details for investors. LQDA Settles UTHR Disputes for $380.7M, Limits Yutrepia Label
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Jefferies raised its United Therapeutics price target to $728, adding to a generally favorable analyst view. The settlement may also support valuation arguments that UTHR is undervalued relative to its earnings and pulmonary hypertension franchise. United Therapeutics Price Target Raised to $728 at Jefferies
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent operating results remain mixed: United Therapeutics beat quarterly EPS estimates, but revenue declined year over year and fell short of consensus. Investors are therefore likely to focus primarily on the settlement’s effect on future competition and cash flow.
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt disclosed sales of 9,500 UTHR shares worth roughly $5.2 million. The transaction reduced her holdings by about 2.8%, though insider selling alone does not establish a change in the company’s fundamentals. United Therapeutics CEO Share Sale

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of UTHR. Brindle & Bay Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $234,000. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC lifted its stake in United Therapeutics by 5.7% in the third quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 1,950 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,057,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at approximately $417,000. Marquette Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 19.8% in the third quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 1,210 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $656,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Vilga Financial Planning LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth $10,839,000. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on UTHR. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $677.00 to $708.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, October 1st. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $728.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $642.69.

About United Therapeutics

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.