Louisiana State Employees Retirement System Acquires 100 Shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,400 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $4,375,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in UTHR. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Therapeutics during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in United Therapeutics during the third quarter worth $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in United Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at $82,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in shares of United Therapeutics by 31.9% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics in the 3rd quarter worth about $90,000. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ UTHR opened at $370.74 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $16.55 billion, a PE ratio of 16.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.57. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $361.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $358.32. United Therapeutics Co. has a 52-week low of $211.61 and a 52-week high of $417.82.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on UTHR. HC Wainwright upped their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. StockNews.com upgraded United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 16th. TD Cowen raised their price target on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upped their price objective on United Therapeutics from $319.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Argus lifted their target price on United Therapeutics from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $382.08.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Michael Benkowitz sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $348.06, for a total value of $3,480,600.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 2,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $896,950.62. This trade represents a 79.51 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $374.37, for a total transaction of $2,882,649.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,743,122.70. This trade represents a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 121,864 shares of company stock worth $44,516,965 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 11.90% 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.