United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Shares Gap Up – What’s Next?

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $478.16, but opened at $497.75. United Therapeutics shares last traded at $511.48, with a volume of 195,185 shares.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $525.00 to $575.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $587.00 to $643.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Finally, Bank of America restated a “neutral” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $539.00.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $483.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $457.40. The stock has a market cap of $23.48 billion, a PE ratio of 19.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 0.84.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The biotechnology company reported $7.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.78 by $0.92. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 41.94% and a return on equity of 19.30%. The company had revenue of $790.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $814.80 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.19 EPS. United Therapeutics’s revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Ray Kurzweil sold 4,910 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $489.02, for a total value of $2,401,088.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 12,670 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,195,883.40. This trade represents a 27.93% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $518.03, for a total value of $4,921,285.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 130 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $67,343.90. This trade represents a 98.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 344,497 shares of company stock valued at $167,709,262. 10.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. Avoro Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,606,060 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,269,803,000 after buying an additional 383,838 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 74.5% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,441,492 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,189,617,000 after acquiring an additional 1,042,711 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 29.9% in the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,281,699 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $624,508,000 after acquiring an additional 295,221 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in United Therapeutics by 90.2% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 884,703 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $254,219,000 after acquiring an additional 419,588 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its stake in United Therapeutics by 75.1% during the fourth quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 796,101 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $387,801,000 after acquiring an additional 341,383 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

About United Therapeutics

United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ: UTHR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of unique products to address life-threatening illnesses. The company’s primary focus has been on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where it has launched several therapies designed to improve functional capacity and quality of life for patients. Its marketed products include continuous infusion treprostinil (Remodulin), inhaled treprostinil (Tyvaso), oral treprostinil (Orenitram) and tadalafil (Adcirca), each tailored to different modes of administration and patient needs.