United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short-term interest during the month of March. As of March 15, there was short interest totaling 1,000,000 shares, a decline of 32.0% from February 28’s total of 1,470,000 shares. Approximately 2.3% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 440,200 shares, the short interest ratio is currently 2.3 days.

Several equity analysts have recently commented on UTHR shares. BTIG Research began covering United Therapeutics shares in a research note on Friday, February 11. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Wedbush reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a price target of $236.00 (vs. $276.00) on United Therapeutics shares in a Sunday, February 27 research note. StockNews.com downgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a “strong buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a Thursday, March 24 research rating. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a price target of $175.00 for the company. in a research note from Tuesday, March 1. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating on United Therapeutics shares in a research note on Friday, February 25. Two research analysts rated the stock with a hold rating and six gave the company’s stock a buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $213.17.

UTHR stock opened at $175.23 on Tuesday. United Therapeutics has a 1-year low of $158.38 and a 1-year high of $218.38. The company has a market capitalization of $7.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.47, a PEG ratio of 6.73 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a 50-day moving average of $188.25 and a 200-day moving average of $194.53. The company has a debt ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 7.61 and a quick ratio of 7.30.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR – Get Rating) last reported quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 24. The biotech company reported earnings per share of $2.35 for the quarter, missing the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $3.77 per ($1.42). The company posted revenue of $415.20 million in the quarter, compared to $427.59 million expected by analysts. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 12.80% and a net margin of 28.23%. United Therapeutics revenue for the quarter increased 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. In the same quarter last year, the company posted EPS of $2.19. On average, equity research analysts expect United Therapeutics to post earnings per share of 14.04 for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Executive Vice President Paul A. Mahon sold 6,000 shares of the company in a trade dated Thursday, Jan. 6. The shares were sold at an average price of $192.46, for a total transaction of $1,154,760.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, accessible via the SEC’s website. Additionally, CEO Martine A. Rothblatt sold 3,082 shares of the company in a trade dated Wednesday, December 29. The shares were sold at an average price of $212.49, for a total transaction of $654,894.18. The disclosure of this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 39,082 shares of the company valued at $7,595,934 in the past three months. 12.10% of the shares are currently held by insiders.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently changed their positions in the company. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 7,466 shares of the biotech company worth $1,613,000 after purchasing 50 additional shares during the period. Advisor Partners LLC increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 4.4% in the fourth quarter. Advisor Partners LLC now owns 1,249 shares of the biotech company worth $270,000 after buying 53 additional shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,871 shares of the biotech company worth $404,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the period. Cardinal Capital Management increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 6,981 shares of the biotech company worth $1,508,000 after buying 65 additional shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its stake in United Therapeutics by 75.0% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 154 shares of the biotech company worth $28,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.46% of the company’s shares.

United Therapeutics Company Profile (Get a rating)

United Therapeutics Corp. is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of products for patients with chronic and life-threatening diseases. The company markets and sells commercial therapies to treat high-risk pulmonary arterial hypertension and neuroblastoma.

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