Raymond James Financial Inc. Makes New Investment in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 51,744 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $18,257,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. owned approximately 0.12% of United Therapeutics at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 30.4% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 11,588 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $4,098,000 after purchasing an additional 2,702 shares during the period. Milestone Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 56.5% in the 4th quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC now owns 2,874 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $1,014,000 after buying an additional 1,037 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 6.2% in the 4th quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 39,289 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $13,863,000 after buying an additional 2,300 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 9,427 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $3,326,000 after acquiring an additional 789 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 35.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 192,546 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $68,999,000 after acquiring an additional 50,291 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Tommy G. Thompson sold 2,500 shares of the business's 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 transaction, the director now owns 8,480 shares in the company, valued at $2,703,424. The trade was a 22.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the business's 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 completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at $911,330.28. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 84,500 shares of company stock valued at $28,179,150. Company insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Trading Up 0.2 %

UTHR traded up $0.64 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $293.46. 225,287 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 450,218. United Therapeutics Co. has a one year low of $233.28 and a one year high of $417.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $313.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $347.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.18 billion, a PE ratio of 12.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.63.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $6.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.10 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $735.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations 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 firm posted $4.36 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UTHR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bank of America raised United Therapeutics from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $314.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday. StockNews.com raised United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on United Therapeutics from $357.00 to $355.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and issued a $425.00 price target on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $395.67.

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.