Insider Selling: United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Sells $5,592,080.00 in Stock

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $588.64, for a total value of $5,592,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $190,980,127.52. The trade was a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UTHR opened at $593.54 on Friday. United Therapeutics Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $430.02 and a fifty-two week high of $609.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.49. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $525.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $529.96.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.86 by $0.41. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%. The business had revenue of $783.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $804.65 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $6.41 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Therapeutics announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, October 22nd that authorizes the company to buy back $2 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biotechnology company to purchase up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Share repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,217,000. Andra AP fonden raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 33.5% in the 2nd quarter. Andra AP fonden now owns 34,904 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $18,912,000 after purchasing an additional 8,760 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,359,000. Partners Capital Investment Group LLP acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,691,000. Finally, Palo Alto Investors LP acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,911,514. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about United Therapeutics

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

• Positive Sentiment: The FDA cleared United Therapeutics to begin a clinical trial of its inhaled treprostinil-iloprost combination therapy, or Treprostinil-Iloprost SMI, for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The approval allows the company to advance a potentially important pipeline product alongside its established PAH franchise, although clinical efficacy and commercialization remain unproven. United Therapeutics Cleared To Start Trial For New Pulmonary Hypertension Therapy
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s board recently authorized a $2 billion share-repurchase program, equivalent to as much as 8.3% of outstanding shares. Buybacks can support earnings per share and signal management’s confidence that the stock is undervalued.
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan maintained an “overweight” rating but reduced its price target from $710 to $695, still implying meaningful potential appreciation from recent trading levels. Analysts overall retain a Moderate Buy consensus, with an average target of $666.50.
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for approximately $5.6 million, reducing her direct ownership by 2.84%. The sale is relatively small compared with her remaining stake, but insider selling can create a modest sentiment overhang. SEC insider transaction filing
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are approaching the next earnings report amid expectations for declining earnings, while the company’s latest reported revenue fell 1.9% year over year and missed consensus despite an EPS beat. That combination could limit near-term upside if results or guidance disappoint.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $728.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, October 14th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $515.00 to $566.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $717.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, October 20th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $850.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $667.07.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with life-threatening conditions, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company’s portfolio includes Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable treprostinil product; and Orenitram, an oral treprostinil therapy. These treatments are designed to improve exercise ability and delay disease progression in people with PAH.

The company also markets Unituxin, an antibody therapy used as part of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.