Key Points
- CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics for approximately $5.3 million, reducing her direct ownership by 2.84% while retaining more than 324,000 shares.
- The company authorized a $2 billion share repurchase program, allowing it to buy back up to 8.3% of outstanding shares—potentially supporting earnings per share and signaling that management views the stock as undervalued.
- Analysts remain broadly positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $650.43, although concerns remain about Tyvaso’s outlook and competitive pressure.
United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $560.07, for a total transaction of $5,320,665.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 324,443 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $181,710,791.01. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.
United Therapeutics Trading Up 3.8%
Shares of UTHR stock opened at $584.79 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $517.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $539.73. The company has a market cap of $25.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.92, a PEG ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.49. United Therapeutics Corporation has a 12 month low of $409.07 and a 12 month high of $609.35.
United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm had revenue of $783.30 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $804.65 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $6.41 earnings per share. United Therapeutics's revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.07 EPS for the current year.
United Therapeutics declared that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, October 22nd that allows the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the biotechnology company to buy up to 8.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Share buyback programs are generally an indication that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on UTHR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $687.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "sell" rating and issued a $368.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $708.00 to $697.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday. Raymond James Financial reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $717.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group set a $725.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Monday. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $650.43.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on United Therapeutics
Key United Therapeutics News
Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: $2 billion share repurchase authorization: The board approved an additional $2 billion buyback. Repurchases could reduce the outstanding share count, support earnings per share and signal management believes the stock is attractively valued. United Therapeutics Authorizes Additional $2 Billion Share Buyback Program
- Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to raise expectations: Leerink Partners increased its price target to $725 from $685 while maintaining an “outperform” rating. Other recent targets are also above the current trading range, with the analyst consensus remaining “Moderate Buy.” United Therapeutics Stock Gets Price Target Increase from Leerink Partners
- Neutral Sentiment: Third-quarter results are scheduled for November 4: Investors will be watching Tyvaso sales, guidance and progress in the company’s organ-transplantation programs. The prior quarter showed stronger-than-expected EPS but revenue below consensus and a year-over-year decline. United Therapeutics to Report Third-Quarter Results
- Neutral Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt sold shares: Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for about $5.3 million, reducing her position by 2.84% but leaving her with more than 324,000 shares. The transaction may reflect scheduled diversification rather than a change in outlook. SEC Insider Trading Filing
- Negative Sentiment: Tyvaso faces near-term uncertainty: RBC said the settlement with Liquidia could create pressure for Tyvaso’s outlook, raising concerns about competitive dynamics and the growth trajectory of United Therapeutics’ key pulmonary hypertension products. United Therapeutics Tyvaso Outlook Faces Near-Term Pressure
Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Therapeutics
Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the second quarter worth about $2,868,735,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 866,930 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $514,016,000 after purchasing an additional 70,829 shares during the last quarter. Jupiter Topco LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at about $450,140,000. Swedbank AB boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 327,122 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $193,977,000 after purchasing an additional 2,350 shares during the period. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 309,220 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $183,306,000 after purchasing an additional 2,383 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.
About United Therapeutics
(
Get Free Report)
United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for patients with life-threatening conditions, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The company's portfolio includes Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI, inhaled formulations of treprostinil; Remodulin, an injectable treprostinil product; and Orenitram, an oral treprostinil therapy. These treatments are designed to improve exercise ability and delay disease progression in people with PAH.
The company also markets Unituxin, an antibody therapy used as part of treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.
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