United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Downgraded by Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report released on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $321.00 price target on the biotechnology company’s stock, up from their previous price target of $310.00.

A number of other analysts have also commented on UTHR. StockNews.com lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 20th. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st. UBS Group increased their target price on United Therapeutics from $300.00 to $370.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a buy rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $321.55.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ:UTHR opened at $321.38 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.20, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.55. United Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $208.62 and a 1-year high of $330.00. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $290.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $250.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 3.64 and a current ratio of 3.77.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The biotechnology company reported $6.17 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $620.31 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $4.86 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 33.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics will post 24.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In other news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.35, for a total transaction of $1,174,860.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,425.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $326.35, for a total transaction of $1,174,860.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,425.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Nilda Mesa sold 266 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $318.58, for a total value of $84,742.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,107 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,626,988.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 100,884 shares of company stock worth $27,931,991 over the last ninety days. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rise Advisors LLC acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 63.6% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 301 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $69,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its position in United Therapeutics by 21.1% in the 1st quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 482 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $111,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 10.0% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 504 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $114,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.