United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Sets New 12-Month High Following Analyst Upgrade

United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Friday after The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on the stock from $218.00 to $240.00. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock. United Therapeutics traded as high as $262.51 and last traded at $262.40, with a volume of 779488 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $258.13.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Leerink Partnrs reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $309.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $308.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $308.78.

Insider Transactions at United Therapeutics

In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $258.09, for a total value of $929,124.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,551.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.09, for a total value of $929,124.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $33,551.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Christopher Patusky sold 1,680 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.00, for a total transaction of $376,320.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 4 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $896. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 141,790 shares of company stock valued at $33,572,685 in the last ninety days. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth $100,519,000. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its stake in United Therapeutics by 677.6% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 300,920 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $72,422,000 after acquiring an additional 262,222 shares in the last quarter. Avidity Partners Management LP acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at about $52,158,000. Comerica Bank lifted its stake in United Therapeutics by 2,697.2% in the 3rd quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 156,587 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $35,368,000 after purchasing an additional 150,989 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 309.7% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 134,162 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $29,501,000 after purchasing an additional 101,419 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 1.7 %

The company has a quick ratio of 4.28, a current ratio of 4.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.64 billion, a PE ratio of 12.41 and a beta of 0.54. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $236.15 and a 200-day moving average price of $229.20.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The biotechnology company reported $6.17 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.63 by $0.54. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 18.72% and a net margin of 42.05%. The company had revenue of $677.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $620.31 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.86 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 33.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Co. will post 23.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.