First Trust Advisors LP Boosts Stock Holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 9.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 304,185 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 27,096 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned 0.68% of United Therapeutics worth $107,329,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in UTHR. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth $67,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 12.0% in the 4th quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $99,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its position in United Therapeutics by 678.9% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 296 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 1.7 %

NASDAQ UTHR traded down $5.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $291.38. 311,498 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 447,735. The firm has a market cap of $13.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.80, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.63. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1-year low of $233.31 and a 1-year high of $417.82. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $308.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $346.55.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $6.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.10 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $735.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $734.74 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.36 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Tommy G. Thompson sold 2,500 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $318.80, for a total value of $797,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 8,480 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,703,424. This trade represents a 22.77 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.64, for a total value of $3,536,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at $911,330.28. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 84,500 shares of company stock worth $28,179,150. Company insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America upgraded United Therapeutics from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $314.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, April 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. UBS Group lifted 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. HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $425.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on United Therapeutics from $357.00 to $355.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $390.17.

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.