UPDATE: Goldman Sachs Downgrades United Therapeutics Corporation to Sell; Upside Capped

Goldman Sachs reduced its rating on United Therapeutics Corporation

from Neutral to Sell while reiterating its price target at $50. Goldman Sachs noted, "We are downgrading UTHR to Sell from Neutral relative to our Attractive coverage view as we see 4% downside to our $50 12-month price target vs. 12% upside, on average, for our coverage group. The company's base business has been relatively stable (+7% qoq growth in 3Q), and we do not expect its growth trajectory to meaningfully change. Hence, our focus is on terminal value, where a setback on a key pipeline drug (oral Remodulin not approved by FDA) and the ongoing Sandoz patent challenge of UTHR's IV/SQ versions of Remodulin (50% of 2012 revenues) are likely to remain overhangs through 2013." United Therapeutics Corporation closed at $52.16 on Wednesday.