Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Cuts Position in United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of United Therapeutics Co. (NASDAQ:UTHR) by 5.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 93,673 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 5,736 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc.’s holdings in United Therapeutics were worth $33,052,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of UTHR. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of United Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in United Therapeutics during the third quarter valued at about $82,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its holdings in United Therapeutics by 31.9% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 240 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 58 shares during the last quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in United Therapeutics in the third quarter worth about $90,000. Finally, Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust purchased a new position in United Therapeutics in the third quarter valued at about $111,000. 94.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Paul A. Mahon sold 7,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $367.36, for a total value of $2,828,672.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 36,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $13,485,785.60. This represents a 17.34 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Nilda Mesa sold 255 shares of United Therapeutics stock in a transaction on Monday, December 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $355.77, for a total transaction of $90,721.35. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,528 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $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 have sold 121,864 shares of company stock worth $44,516,965. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

United Therapeutics Price Performance

NASDAQ UTHR opened at $353.31 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $362.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $358.24. United Therapeutics Co. has a 1 year low of $210.64 and a 1 year high of $417.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.78 billion, a PE ratio of 15.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.57.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. HC Wainwright lifted their price target on shares of United Therapeutics from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. TD Cowen boosted their target price on United Therapeutics from $350.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on United Therapeutics from $243.00 to $302.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded United Therapeutics from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of United Therapeutics from $415.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Therapeutics presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $382.08.

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.