United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,090,000 shares, a drop of 42.3% from the August 15th total of 1,890,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 332,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms have issued reports on UTHR. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $316.00 to $318.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Wedbush raised their price objective on United Therapeutics from $305.00 to $307.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised their price target on United Therapeutics from $256.00 to $268.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $296.44.
United Therapeutics Trading Down 0.6 %
Shares of UTHR stock opened at $222.34 on Thursday. United Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $201.65 and a fifty-two week high of $283.09. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $232.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $226.31. The company has a quick ratio of 8.40, a current ratio of 8.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $10.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.58 and a beta of 0.62.
United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The biotechnology company reported $5.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.57 by $0.67. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 17.52% and a net margin of 41.29%. The firm had revenue of $596.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $524.18 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.41 earnings per share. United Therapeutics’s quarterly revenue was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that United Therapeutics will post 18.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity
In related news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.87, for a total transaction of $609,675.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,925,398.13. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 6,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.19, for a total transaction of $1,291,140.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,599 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,875,738.81. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 2,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $243.87, for a total value of $609,675.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,925,398.13. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 20,500 shares of company stock valued at $4,656,195 in the last three months. 12.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Institutional Trading of United Therapeutics
Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in UTHR. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its position in United Therapeutics by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 28,326 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $5,244,000 after buying an additional 2,320 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 229.6% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,063 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $371,000 after acquiring an additional 1,437 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at $1,160,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at about $66,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its position in United Therapeutics by 187.5% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 877 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $157,000 after purchasing an additional 572 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently 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. Its commercial therapies include Remodulin to treat patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to diminish symptoms associated with exercise; Tyvaso, an inhaled solution via ultrasonic nebulizer; Tyvaso DPI, an inhaled dry powder via pre-filled and single-use cartridges; Remunity Pump, a small, lightweight, durable pump and separate controller; Orenitram, a tablet dosage form of treprostinil, to delay disease progression and improve exercise capacity in PAH patients; Unituxin, a monoclonal antibody for treating high-risk neuroblastoma; and Adcirca, an oral PDE-5 inhibitor to enhance the exercise ability in PAH patients.