Empirical Finance LLC Cuts Position in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Empirical Finance LLC decreased its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 47.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,297 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 2,076 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $810,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in UTHR. Milestone Asset Management LLC increased its position in United Therapeutics by 56.5% during the 4th quarter. Milestone Asset Management LLC now owns 2,874 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,014,000 after buying an additional 1,037 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics by 9.1% during the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 9,427 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $3,326,000 after acquiring an additional 789 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 35.4% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 192,546 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $68,999,000 after purchasing an additional 50,291 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 123,929 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Burney Co. grew its position in United Therapeutics by 113.3% during the 4th quarter. Burney Co. now owns 23,922 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $8,441,000 after purchasing an additional 12,705 shares during the last quarter. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of the 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 directly owns 5,528 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,966,696.56. This represents a 4.41 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $367.36, for a total transaction of $2,828,672.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,485,785.60. The trade was a 17.34 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 111,864 shares of company stock valued at $41,036,365 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Argus increased their target price on United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. HC Wainwright lifted their target price on United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on United Therapeutics from $575.00 to $600.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $382.08.

United Therapeutics Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ UTHR opened at $345.64 on Tuesday. United Therapeutics Co. has a 12-month low of $210.64 and a 12-month high of $417.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.57. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $362.37 and a 200 day moving average of $358.13.

About United Therapeutics

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.