UTHR Insider Michael Benkowitz Exercises Options, Sells Shares Under 10b5-1
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
United Therapeutics insider Michael Benkowitz executed option exercises and sold shares under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. On 09/02/2025 Mr. Benkowitz exercised stock options with strike prices of $135.42 and $146.03, resulting in 22,500 option-related shares reported as acquired across two option series. He then sold multiple tranches of common stock on 09/01–09/02/2025 at prices ranging from $405.54 to $419.63, with weighted-average prices reported for each tranche. The shares are held in trusts for which the reporting person has either shared or sole investment and voting power. The filing was signed under power of attorney on 09/04/2025.
Positive
- Trades executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, indicating pre-scheduled transactions
- Exercised options converted to shares, documented with strike prices and exercisable/expiration dates
- Detailed weighted-average prices provided and willingness to supply full trade breakdowns on request
Negative
- Multiple sales of shares occurred on 09/01–09/02/2025 at prices between $405.54 and $419.63 which reduced direct beneficial holdings held in trusts
- Complex trust arrangements (shared and sole investment/voting power) may complicate clarity of ultimate control
Insights
TL;DR: Insider exercised options and sold shares under a pre-existing 10b5-1 plan; transactions are routine with no new corporate disclosures.
The Form 4 shows Michael Benkowitz exercising two option series (14,625 and 7,875 options) and the subsequent sale of resulting shares in multiple tranches at market prices between $405.54 and $419.63. Transactions were executed pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan dated June 3, 2025, which provides an affirmative defense for scheduled trades. Shares are held in trusts where the reporting person is a beneficiary and exercises either shared or sole voting and investment power. The filing provides trade-level weighted-average prices and indicates willingness to provide full trade details on request.
TL;DR: Transactions appear compliant with 10b5-1 procedures and reflect trust-held insider dispositions rather than ad hoc sales.
The disclosure identifies a Rule 10b5-1 plan as the mechanism for the option exercises and sales, reducing concerns about timing. Beneficial ownership is indirect via trusts with differing control arrangements: one trust where the reporting person and spouse are co-trustees and another where he has sole investment and voting power. The filing is signed under power of attorney and includes standard explanatory footnotes about weighted-average pricing across multiple trades.