Key Points
- CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics at an average price of $476.17, generating approximately $4.5 million and reducing her direct stake by 2.84%.
- United Therapeutics reported quarterly EPS of $7.27, beating estimates of $6.86, but revenue of $783.3 million fell short of forecasts and declined 1.9% year over year.
- Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy consensus with an average price target of $621, though Goldman Sachs initiated coverage with a Sell rating and a much lower $321 target, citing valuation concerns and potential weakness in the core business.
United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Friday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $476.17, for a total transaction of $4,523,615.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares in the company, valued at approximately $154,490,023.31. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.
United Therapeutics Stock Up 2.1%
UTHR stock opened at $485.54 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $20.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.37, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $509.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $539.77. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 52 week low of $409.07 and a 52 week high of $609.35.
United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.86 by $0.41. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%.The business had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $6.41 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at approximately $2,868,735,000. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new position in shares of United Therapeutics in the second quarter valued at $450,140,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at $293,418,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at $159,522,000. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at $154,304,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.08% of the company's stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of research firms have recently commented on UTHR. Bank of America cut their price objective on United Therapeutics from $620.00 to $613.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday. They set a "sell" rating and a $321.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley set a $515.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, August 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 27th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $621.00.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on United Therapeutics
Key United Therapeutics News
Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Some analysts remain constructive, arguing that the market is focused on erosion in United Therapeutics’ established business while underappreciating potential “refill” growth from its development pipeline. The company’s pipeline, potential idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis opportunities and shareholder returns, including buybacks, could provide catalysts through 2027. United Therapeutics: The Market Sees The Erosion, Not The Refill - Buy
- Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs initiated research coverage, bringing increased attention to United Therapeutics’ valuation, shrinking core franchise and upcoming pipeline catalysts. Coverage comparisons with Sarepta Therapeutics and Altimmune provide sector context but do not represent material changes to United Therapeutics’ fundamentals. Comparing United Therapeutics and Sarepta Therapeutics
- Negative Sentiment: Goldman Sachs analyst Andrea Newkirk initiated United Therapeutics with a Sell rating and a $321 price target, substantially below recent trading levels. Goldman believes the shares are valued above their historical range while the base business contracts, and expects the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis launch to be more difficult than investors anticipate. The call triggered selling and is the primary reason for recent weakness. Goldman Sachs Sell Rating and 2027 Catalysts
- Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for approximately $4.5 million, reducing her direct ownership by 2.84%. Although she still retains a substantial position, the insider transaction adds a modest negative signal alongside the analyst downgrade. SEC Insider Transaction Filing
About United Therapeutics
(
Get Free Report)
United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for serious and life-threatening conditions, with a primary emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company's products are designed to improve pulmonary blood flow and reduce the effects of this progressive disease.
United Therapeutics' PAH portfolio includes Remodulin (treprostinil) injection, Orenitram (treprostinil) extended-release tablets, and Tyvaso (treprostinil), which is available as an inhalation solution and as the Tyvaso DPI dry-powder inhaler.
Further Reading
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