US Bancorp DE Grows Holdings in United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR)

US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 12.2% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,971 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $608,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Dunhill Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the first quarter worth about $49,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth about $62,000. Curat Global LLC acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the first quarter worth about $63,000. Finally, Natixis acquired a new position in United Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at about $85,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of UTHR opened at $300.43 on Tuesday. United Therapeutics Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $266.98 and a fifty-two week high of $417.82. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $296.14 and its 200 day moving average price is $310.09. The company has a market cap of $13.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.73, a PEG ratio of 4.57 and a beta of 0.57.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.80 by ($0.39). United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 18.73% and a net margin of 40.36%. The business had revenue of $798.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $802.13 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.85 earnings per share. United Therapeutics’s quarterly revenue was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, June 2nd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $405.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $330.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $410.00 to $385.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $314.00 to $295.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $321.00 to $315.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $379.69.

Insider Activity

In other United Therapeutics news, CFO James Edgemond sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $325.37, for a total value of $3,904,440.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 8,118 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,641,353.66. This represents a 59.65% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total transaction of $3,300,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 36,781 shares in the company, valued at $11,034,300. This trade represents a 23.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 81,681 shares of company stock valued at $24,618,359. 10.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

United Therapeutics 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.