United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Stock Rating Lowered by StockNews.com

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Argus raised their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $378.36.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

UTHR traded up $4.28 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $366.61. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 252,787 shares, compared to its average volume of 246,857. The company’s 50-day moving average is $370.83 and its 200-day moving average is $351.77. United Therapeutics has a 52 week low of $208.62 and a 52 week high of $417.82. The firm has a market cap of $16.37 billion, a PE ratio of 16.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.57.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.16 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $722.62 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. United Therapeutics’s quarterly revenue was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.38 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics will post 25.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other United Therapeutics news, Director Louis W. Sullivan sold 26,209 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $373.22, for a total transaction of $9,781,722.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,051 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,885,134.22. This trade represents a 83.84 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $367.36, for a total transaction of $2,828,672.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares in the company, valued at $13,485,785.60. This trade represents a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 142,422 shares of company stock worth $53,498,732. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. ClariVest Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 120.0% during the 2nd quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 77 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in United Therapeutics in the third quarter worth approximately $82,000. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $90,000. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

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.