United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) Short Interest Update

United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,920,000 shares, a decrease of 14.3% from the December 15th total of 2,240,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 317,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.1 days. Currently, 4.4% of the company's shares are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH boosted their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Argus upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on United Therapeutics from $315.00 to $432.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $378.36.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

NASDAQ:UTHR traded up $4.75 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $366.39. 255,042 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 262,894. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $369.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $353.37. United Therapeutics has a twelve month low of $208.62 and a twelve month high of $417.82.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.16 by $0.23. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 40.31% and a return on equity of 19.22%. The company had revenue of $748.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $722.62 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.38 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 22.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that United Therapeutics will post 25.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $364.62, for a total transaction of $3,646,200.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at $939,625.74. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $355.77, for a total transaction of $90,721.35. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 5,528 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,966,696.56. The trade was a 4.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 144,630 shares of company stock valued at $54,371,916. 11.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UTHR. USA Financial Formulas acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth $82,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 31.9% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $85,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at $90,000. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company's stock.

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.