Key Points
- CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics at an average price of $585.49, generating approximately $5.6 million and reducing her direct stake by 2.84%.
- 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 management believes the stock is undervalued.
- United Therapeutics beat quarterly EPS estimates, reporting $7.27 versus the $6.86 consensus, but revenue declined 1.9% year over year and missed expectations. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target around $667.
United Therapeutics Corporation (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $585.49, for a total value of $5,562,155.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 324,443 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $189,958,132.07. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link.
United Therapeutics Stock Performance
NASDAQ UTHR opened at $593.54 on Friday. The business's 50 day moving average price is $525.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $529.96. United Therapeutics Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $430.02 and a fifty-two week high of $609.35. The company has a market cap of $25.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.24, a P/E/G ratio of 4.25 and a beta of 0.49.
United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The biotechnology company reported $7.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.86 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $783.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $804.65 million. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 20.18% and a net margin of 41.56%. United Therapeutics's revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.41 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Therapeutics Corporation will post 26.09 EPS for the current year.
United Therapeutics declared that its board has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, October 22nd that permits the company to buy back $2 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the biotechnology company to repurchase up to 8.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.
United Therapeutics News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting United Therapeutics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: The FDA cleared United Therapeutics to begin a clinical trial of its inhaled treprostinil-iloprost combination therapy, or Treprostinil-Iloprost SMI, for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The approval allows the company to advance a potentially important pipeline product alongside its established PAH franchise, although clinical efficacy and commercialization remain unproven. United Therapeutics Cleared To Start Trial For New Pulmonary Hypertension Therapy
- Positive Sentiment: The company’s board recently authorized a $2 billion share-repurchase program, equivalent to as much as 8.3% of outstanding shares. Buybacks can support earnings per share and signal management’s confidence that the stock is undervalued.
- Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan maintained an “overweight” rating but reduced its price target from $710 to $695, still implying meaningful potential appreciation from recent trading levels. Analysts overall retain a Moderate Buy consensus, with an average target of $666.50.
- Negative Sentiment: CEO Martine Rothblatt sold 9,500 shares for approximately $5.6 million, reducing her direct ownership by 2.84%. The sale is relatively small compared with her remaining stake, but insider selling can create a modest sentiment overhang. SEC insider transaction filing
- Negative Sentiment: Investors are approaching the next earnings report amid expectations for declining earnings, while the company’s latest reported revenue fell 1.9% year over year and missed consensus despite an EPS beat. That combination could limit near-term upside if results or guidance disappoint.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics
Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UTHR. Toth Financial Advisory Corp raised its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 2,400.0% in the second quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 50 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Fiduciary Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $30,000. Caitlin John LLC purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics in the second quarter worth about $37,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in United Therapeutics by 426.7% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 79 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. Finally, PFS Partners LLC bought a new position in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research firms have recently issued reports on UTHR. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a $728.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Wednesday, October 14th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $717.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, October 20th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $515.00 to $566.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $685.00 to $725.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, October 19th. Finally, UBS Group set a $725.00 price target on United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $667.07.
View Our Latest Report on United Therapeutics
United Therapeutics Company Profile
(
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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