Franklin Resources Inc. Grows Stake in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 97.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 250,719 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after acquiring an additional 123,929 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 0.56% of United Therapeutics worth $89,532,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 1.1% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,174,692 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $692,748,000 after buying an additional 22,978 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,094,015 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $391,459,000 after acquiring an additional 45,566 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its stake 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 acquiring an additional 314,004 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management boosted its position in United Therapeutics by 82.5% during the second quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 966,370 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $307,837,000 after purchasing an additional 436,851 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 585,969 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $186,656,000 after buying an additional 22,683 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ:UTHR traded up $11.02 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $372.83. The stock had a trading volume of 335,918 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,276. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.54. United Therapeutics Co. has a one year low of $208.62 and a one year high of $417.82. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $370.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $343.43.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on UTHR. HC Wainwright boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. StockNews.com raised United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price objective 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $370.86.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $374.37, for a total transaction of $2,882,649.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $13,743,122.70. The trade was a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.63, for a total transaction of $192,081.30. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 3,675 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,384,115.25. This trade represents a 12.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 119,340 shares of company stock valued at $44,765,530 over the last ninety days. 11.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.