Swiss National Bank Grows Stake in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Swiss National Bank increased its stake in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Rating) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 109,900 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,500 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank owned approximately 0.24% of United Therapeutics worth $30,562,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 8.9% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 28,326 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $5,244,000 after buying an additional 2,320 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 229.6% during the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,063 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $371,000 after acquiring an additional 1,437 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,160,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the first quarter valued at approximately $66,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 187.5% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 877 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $157,000 after acquiring an additional 572 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.63% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Argus dropped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $300.00 to $280.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. StockNews.com raised shares of United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of United Therapeutics from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $285.82.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Therapeutics news, Director Nilda Mesa sold 374 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.81, for a total transaction of $80,338.94. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,806 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,247,186.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Nilda Mesa sold 374 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.81, for a total value of $80,338.94. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,806 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,247,186.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 6,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $214.39, for a total transaction of $1,286,340.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 36,599 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,846,459.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 216,379 shares of company stock valued at $49,631,917 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 12.40% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Up 0.6 %

UTHR stock opened at $213.48 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $224.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $248.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.00 billion, a PE ratio of 14.38 and a beta of 0.60. United Therapeutics Co. has a 12 month low of $178.74 and a 12 month high of $283.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 9.84 and a quick ratio of 9.52.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 3rd. The biotechnology company reported $4.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.26 by $0.60. The business had revenue of $506.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $514.37 million. United Therapeutics had a net margin of 36.76% and a return on equity of 15.49%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.03 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that United Therapeutics Co. will post 18.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Therapeutics Profile

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United Therapeutics Corp. is a biotechnology company, which engages in the development and commercialization of products for patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions. Its products include Adcirca, Orenitram, Remodulin, TYVASO, and Unituxin. The company was founded by Martine A. Rothblatt on June 26, 1996 and is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD.