Ruffer LLP Invests $4.04 Million in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Ruffer LLP bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 11,449 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,039,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 9,108 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $3,214,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,913 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,761,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC boosted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 2,151 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $775,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in United Therapeutics by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,101 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $388,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of United Therapeutics by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Access Investment Management LLC now owns 7,335 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $2,588,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the period. 94.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Therapeutics news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $360.76, for a total transaction of $3,607,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at $929,678.52. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, 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 transaction of $90,721.35. Following the transaction, the director now owns 5,528 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,966,696.56. This represents a 4.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 116,464 shares of company stock worth $42,396,244. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of UTHR stock opened at $315.91 on Friday. United Therapeutics Co. has a fifty-two week low of $221.53 and a fifty-two week high of $417.82. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $354.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $359.94. The company has a market capitalization of $14.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.64.

United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The biotechnology company reported $6.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.10 by $0.09. United Therapeutics had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 40.31%. The company had revenue of $735.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $734.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $4.36 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that United Therapeutics Co. will post 24.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $425.00 target price on shares of United Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 27th. StockNews.com lowered United Therapeutics from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $388.25.

United Therapeutics 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.