United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) Holdings Lowered by National Pension Service

National Pension Service trimmed its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 72.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 31,442 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 82,300 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $11,094,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. GraniteShares Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at $442,000. Denali Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at $495,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 14.4% during the fourth quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 103,597 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $36,553,000 after purchasing an additional 13,030 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 22,167 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $7,821,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Colonial River Investments LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 12.7% during the fourth quarter. Colonial River Investments LLC now owns 1,367 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $482,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR opened at $319.96 on Friday. United Therapeutics Co. has a fifty-two week low of $221.53 and a fifty-two week high of $417.82. The business has a 50-day moving average of $359.65 and a 200-day moving average of $360.71. The company has a market capitalization of $14.28 billion, a PE ratio of 14.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.57.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $6.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.10 by $0.09. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The company had revenue of $735.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $734.74 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.36 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded United Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $425.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $388.25.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $361.95, for a total transaction of $3,619,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $932,745.15. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.77, for a total value of $90,721.35. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,528 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,966,696.56. This represents a 4.41 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 124,164 shares of company stock valued at $45,278,893. Insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics 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.