United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) Sets New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $399.62 and last traded at $397.92, with a volume of 11479 shares. The stock had previously closed at $397.49.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America reduced their price target on United Therapeutics from $303.00 to $280.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. TD Cowen increased 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. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised United Therapeutics from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $370.86.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $17.97 billion, a PE ratio of 17.68, a PEG ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $358.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $320.94.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The biotechnology company reported $6.39 earnings per share 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 in the previous year, the firm earned $5.38 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 25.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of United Therapeutics 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 3,675 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,384,115.25. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 14,700 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $374.46, for a total transaction of $5,504,562.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 2,577 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $964,983.42. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Christopher Causey sold 510 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.63, for a total value of $192,081.30. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,675 shares in the company, valued at $1,384,115.25. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 81,422 shares of company stock valued at $29,229,828 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of United Therapeutics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 2,047 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $652,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 4,525 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $1,441,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 120.0% during the 2nd quarter. ClariVest Asset Management LLC now owns 77 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 14.0% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 343 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $109,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 2,681 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $961,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. 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.