Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 8,067 Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. decreased its position in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 12.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,115 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 8,067 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.12% of United Therapeutics worth $19,447,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at about $82,000. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth $90,000. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 343 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

UTHR traded down $7.46 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $358.93. The stock had a trading volume of 248,342 shares, compared to its average volume of 267,993. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $367.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $353.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.57. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1-year low of $208.62 and a 1-year high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.16 by $0.23. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The company had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $722.62 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $5.38 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 25.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In related news, CFO James Edgemond sold 7,782 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $366.99, for a total transaction of $2,855,916.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 6,426 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,358,277.74. This trade represents a 54.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $367.36, for a total value of $2,828,672.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares in the company, valued at $13,485,785.60. This represents a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 144,630 shares of company stock valued at $54,371,916. 11.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on UTHR. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lifted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Argus increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $378.36.

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.