Rafferty Asset Management LLC Has $13.44 Million Stock Position in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Rafferty Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 25.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 38,084 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 12,872 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLC owned about 0.09% of United Therapeutics worth $13,438,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Dunhill Financial LLC grew its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $67,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 31.9% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $85,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $85,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.76, for a total transaction of $3,607,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $929,678.52. This trade represents a 79.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.93, for a total transaction of $3,310,230.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,781 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,068,506.33. This represents a 23.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 65,500 shares of company stock valued at $20,765,280. Insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UTHR has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $355.00 to $350.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. StockNews.com lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $314.00 price target (down previously from $395.00) on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Bank of America upgraded shares of United Therapeutics from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $314.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $425.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $392.00.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

UTHR stock opened at $305.35 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $299.95 and a 200-day moving average price of $340.58. The company has a market capitalization of $13.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.41, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.58. United Therapeutics Co. has a 52-week low of $264.33 and a 52-week high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.29 by $0.34. The firm had revenue of $794.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $726.82 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.17 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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. 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.