Rhumbline Advisers Sells 2,506 Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Rhumbline Advisers reduced its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 126,338 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 2,506 shares during the quarter. Rhumbline Advisers owned 0.28% of United Therapeutics worth $44,577,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in United Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter valued at $139,206,000. FMR LLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 41.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,077,628 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $386,168,000 after buying an additional 314,004 shares during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 577.1% in the 4th quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd now owns 189,780 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $66,962,000 after buying an additional 161,751 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 56.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 419,957 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $150,492,000 after buying an additional 152,249 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 97.7% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 250,719 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $89,532,000 after buying an additional 123,929 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at United Therapeutics

In other news, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $355.77, for a total transaction of $90,721.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,528 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,966,696.56. This trade represents a 4.41 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $372.75, for a total transaction of $3,727,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at $960,576.75. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 124,164 shares of company stock valued at $45,398,793 in the last ninety days. 11.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ UTHR traded down $6.26 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $361.10. 407,154 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 347,037. The company's 50-day moving average is $362.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $360.19. United Therapeutics Co. has a one year low of $214.75 and a one year high of $417.82. The company has a market capitalization of $16.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.57.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on UTHR. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. 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 report on Wednesday, January 8th. Argus upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Oppenheimer upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $382.08.

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.