Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Reduces Stock Holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. trimmed its position in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 5.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 226,212 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 12,574 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned 0.51% of United Therapeutics worth $79,817,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. MML Investors Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at $245,000. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at about $393,000. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 33.1% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 11,272 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $4,039,000 after buying an additional 2,803 shares during the period. Tri Ri Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the third quarter worth about $7,686,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 97.7% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 250,719 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $89,532,000 after acquiring an additional 123,929 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $370.71, for a total value of $3,707,100.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $955,319.67. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a 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 company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $283.78, for a total value of $3,121,580.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,781 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $10,437,712.18. This represents a 23.02 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 91,500 shares of company stock valued at $30,971,540 in the last quarter. Insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a "buy" rating and set a $425.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $388.25.

United Therapeutics Stock Down 0.2 %

NASDAQ UTHR opened at $284.73 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $12.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.50, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $316.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $348.66. United Therapeutics Co. has a 12-month low of $233.28 and a 12-month high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $6.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.10 by $0.09. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The firm had revenue of $735.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $734.74 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $4.36 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.

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