United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Shares Gap Down – Here’s What Happened

Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $328.40, but opened at $289.00. United Therapeutics shares last traded at $277.26, with a volume of 693,853 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on UTHR. Bank of America raised United Therapeutics from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $314.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, April 21st. 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 note on Friday, April 25th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of United Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $405.00 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of United Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $425.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $393.00.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 15.6%

The firm has a market cap of $12.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.17, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.57. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $301.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $332.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.63 earnings per share 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 return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The business’s revenue was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.17 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Raymond Dwek sold 4,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, April 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.55, for a total value of $1,138,200.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,750 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $497,962.50. This trade represents a 69.57% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 11,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.07, for a total value of $3,476,770.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,781 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,625,370.67. The trade was a 23.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 56,500 shares of company stock worth $16,923,950. Corporate insiders own 10.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Therapeutics

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. SVB Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 100 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in United Therapeutics by 141.7% in the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 145 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.