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UTHR Q1 Earnings Call: Double-Digit Growth Continues, Pipeline Expansion Remains Central

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Biotechnology company United Therapeutics (NASDAQ:UTHR) reported Q1 CY2025 results exceeding the market’s revenue expectations, with sales up 17.2% year on year to $794.4 million. Its non-GAAP profit of $7.28 per share was 11.3% above analysts’ consensus estimates.

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United Therapeutics (UTHR) Q1 CY2025 Highlights:

  • Revenue: $794.4 million vs analyst estimates of $752.6 million (17.2% year-on-year growth, 5.6% beat)
  • Adjusted EPS: $7.28 vs analyst estimates of $6.54 (11.3% beat)
  • Adjusted EBITDA: $420.2 million vs analyst estimates of $379 million (52.9% margin, 10.9% beat)
  • Operating Margin: 48.2%, down from 52.6% in the same quarter last year
  • Free Cash Flow Margin: 50.4%, similar to the same quarter last year
  • Market Capitalization: $13.88 billion

StockStory’s Take

United Therapeutics reported a first-quarter performance driven by sustained demand for its treprostinil-based therapies, including Tyvaso, Orenitram, and Remodulin. Management attributed the quarter’s revenue growth to increased patient referrals and deeper engagement among healthcare providers, particularly within the pulmonary hypertension field. President Michael Benkowitz emphasized, “We continue to see very strong referrals, starts and patient shipments for all of our treprostinil products.”

Looking ahead, United Therapeutics’ leadership highlighted a robust late-stage pipeline, ongoing regulatory milestones, and the company’s disciplined approach to capital allocation as key factors in its guidance. CEO Dr. Martine Rothblatt outlined expectations for further expansion into new indications and organ transplantation programs, noting, “We have entered a sustained period of clinical and regulatory events poised to propel our business forward.” Management also reiterated confidence in maintaining double-digit growth, citing upcoming data readouts and planned product launches.

Key Insights from Management’s Remarks

Management pointed to broad-based commercial momentum and disciplined investment as the main drivers of first-quarter results, while emphasizing the strategic importance of pipeline development and manufacturing expansion.

  • Treprostinil Product Expansion: Growth was fueled by strong demand for Tyvaso (including both DPI and nebulizer forms), Orenitram, and Remodulin, with a notable increase in both prescriber base and depth of prescribing. Management stated that treprostinil therapies remain central to pulmonary hypertension treatment despite new market entrants.
  • Tyvaso DPI Uptake: Tyvaso DPI (dry powder inhaler) continued gaining share, with new patient starts stabilizing at roughly two-thirds DPI versus one-third nebulizer. Leadership underscored device convenience and dosing flexibility as differentiators supporting sustained uptake.
  • Pricing and Payer Environment: A routine price increase for Tyvaso and Orenitram contributed to revenue, while the impact from Medicare Part D redesign was described as modest and largely offset by manufacturer obligations under the new structure.
  • Pipeline and R&D Progress: Five registration-phase clinical studies are underway, including the TETON trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and new organ transplantation programs. The company reported positive regulatory feedback on its UTHYMOKIDNEY and UHeart programs, enabling advancement without further animal studies.
  • Manufacturing and Capital Allocation: Ongoing investments include expansion of Tyvaso DPI manufacturing capacity and the commissioning of specialized facilities for organ development. Management highlighted its balanced capital deployment across R&D, corporate development (including the IVIVA and Miromatrix acquisitions), and shareholder returns.

Drivers of Future Performance

Management’s outlook for the coming quarters centers on expanding existing product indications, advancing late-stage pipeline programs, and maintaining operational efficiency amid a competitive landscape.

  • Pipeline Readouts and Indications: Upcoming data from the TETON trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis could enable label expansion for Tyvaso, opening access to a larger patient population and driving future revenue.
  • Transplantation Programs: Progress in xenotransplantation, including the planned EXPAND study for genetically engineered kidneys and potential IND filings for UTHYMOKIDNEY and UHeart, may add long-term growth avenues if clinical milestones are met.
  • Competitive and Regulatory Risks: Management acknowledged the increasingly competitive pulmonary arterial hypertension market and evolving payer requirements, but expressed confidence that product differentiation and ongoing R&D investment would preserve growth.

Top Analyst Questions

  • Joseph Thome (TD Cowen): Asked about patient selection and learnings from the recent UTHYMOKIDNEY case, including how immunosuppression adjustments informed future trials. Dr. Leigh Peterson explained that future protocols would apply insights from the previous participant, particularly around infection management and immunosuppression.
  • Jessica Fye (JPMorgan): Sought clarity on the revenue impact from the Medicare Part D redesign. President Michael Benkowitz replied that the net benefit this quarter was modest, as additional manufacturer obligations largely offset patient out-of-pocket reductions.
  • Roanna Ruiz (Leerink Partners): Questioned the drivers of Tyvaso DPI growth and any effects from gross-to-net adjustments. Benkowitz indicated that growth was mainly due to patient demand and prescriber adoption, with price changes and gross-to-net impacts minimal in the quarter.
  • Andreas Argyrides (Oppenheimer): Inquired about capital allocation priorities and the potential for further share repurchases or acquisitions. CFO James Edgemond stated that internal R&D, manufacturing, and targeted M&A remain top priorities, with share repurchases considered based on available opportunities.
  • Ash Verma (UBS): Asked about patient volume trends for Tyvaso and competitive positioning versus upcoming products. Benkowitz declined to provide specific patient add figures but noted that revenue trends closely mirror demand, and management remains confident in Tyvaso’s market position.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) key clinical milestones such as data readouts from the TETON trials and initial xenotransplantation procedures, (2) the pace of Tyvaso DPI adoption and deeper market penetration, and (3) developments in the competitive pulmonary hypertension landscape. Progress on pipeline programs and the company’s ability to navigate regulatory or pricing changes will also be important factors.

United Therapeutics currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 10.5×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? See for yourself in our free research report.

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