Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 11,131 Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 12.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 78,002 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 11,131 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.17% of United Therapeutics worth $17,152,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of UTHR. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 73.7% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,675,414 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $300,585,000 after buying an additional 710,668 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at $124,158,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 7.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,096,685 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,125,093,000 after purchasing an additional 344,724 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 15.9% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,795,102 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $402,031,000 after purchasing an additional 245,747 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Krensavage Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in United Therapeutics during the 1st quarter valued at $45,265,000. Institutional investors own 94.08% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Down 1.9 %

Shares of United Therapeutics stock opened at $243.27 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 4.28, a current ratio of 4.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. United Therapeutics Co. has a 12 month low of $204.44 and a 12 month high of $261.54. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $225.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $227.39. The stock has a market cap of $11.45 billion, a PE ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.52.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The biotechnology company reported $4.36 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.28 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $614.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $575.01 million. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 17.72% and a net margin of 42.31%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 25.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.67 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 23.32 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. SVB Leerink assumed coverage on United Therapeutics in a report on Monday, February 5th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $330.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on United Therapeutics from $309.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $308.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Leerink Partnrs reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, United Therapeutics has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $294.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other United Therapeutics news, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 15,000 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.33, for a total transaction of $3,724,950.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 130 shares in the company, valued at $32,282.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other United Therapeutics news, Director Christopher Patusky sold 1,680 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.00, for a total transaction of $376,320.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4 shares in the company, valued at $896. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.33, for a total value of $3,724,950.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 130 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $32,282.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 76,680 shares of company stock worth $17,886,630. Corporate insiders own 12.50% 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.