United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Downgraded to “Buy” Rating by StockNews.com

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

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their price objective on United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. HC Wainwright upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price target on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the company an “outperform” 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. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $370.86.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

United Therapeutics stock opened at $359.58 on Thursday. United Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $208.62 and a 1 year high of $417.82. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $371.01 and its 200-day moving average is $344.37. The company has a market cap of $16.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.79, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.54.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last issued 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 firm had revenue of $748.90 million for 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 revenue was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $5.38 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that United Therapeutics will post 25.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO James Edgemond sold 7,796 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $354.04, for a total transaction of $2,760,095.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,264 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,509,626.56. This represents a 64.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.63, for a total transaction of $192,081.30. Following the sale, the director now owns 3,675 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,384,115.25. The trade was a 12.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 145,549 shares of company stock worth $54,547,253. 11.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UTHR. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in United Therapeutics by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,174,692 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $692,748,000 after purchasing an additional 22,978 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,094,015 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $391,459,000 after buying an additional 45,566 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 41.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,077,628 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $386,168,000 after acquiring an additional 314,004 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management increased its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 82.5% in the second quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 966,370 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $307,837,000 after acquiring an additional 436,851 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.0% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 585,969 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $186,656,000 after acquiring an additional 22,683 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

United Therapeutics Company 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.