Empowered Funds LLC Lowers Holdings in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Empowered Funds LLC decreased its stake in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Free Report) by 11.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 21,532 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 2,697 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC's holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $7,597,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Milestone Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 56.5% during the 4th quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC now owns 2,874 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $1,014,000 after acquiring an additional 1,037 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in United Therapeutics by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 9,427 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $3,326,000 after purchasing an additional 789 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in United Therapeutics by 35.4% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 192,546 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $68,999,000 after purchasing an additional 50,291 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 97.7% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 250,719 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $89,532,000 after acquiring an additional 123,929 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Burney Co. raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 113.3% in the 4th quarter. Burney Co. now owns 23,922 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $8,441,000 after acquiring an additional 12,705 shares in the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

NASDAQ UTHR traded up $0.14 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $370.58. The company's stock had a trading volume of 209,344 shares, compared to its average volume of 325,415. The company's 50-day moving average is $361.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $358.65. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1-year low of $211.61 and a 1-year high of $417.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.57.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. HC Wainwright boosted their price target on United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. TD Cowen boosted their target price on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. StockNews.com upgraded United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their price target on United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $382.08.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Therapeutics

In other United Therapeutics news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $348.06, for a total transaction of $3,480,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at $896,950.62. This represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of the company'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 value of $90,721.35. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,528 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,966,696.56. This trade represents a 4.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 121,864 shares of company stock valued at $44,516,965 over the last quarter. 11.90% of the stock is currently 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.