AGF Management Ltd. trimmed its position in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) by 82.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 116,091 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 557,463 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd. owned approximately 0.09% of Natera worth $18,377,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Natera by 205.4% during the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,800,263 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $355,493,000 after acquiring an additional 1,883,481 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Natera during the 4th quarter worth approximately $146,419,000. PointState Capital LP raised its stake in shares of Natera by 112.0% in the third quarter. PointState Capital LP now owns 782,538 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $99,343,000 after purchasing an additional 413,468 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Natera by 42.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,099,335 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $144,958,000 after purchasing an additional 328,375 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Maverick Capital Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Natera by 25.2% during the third quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. now owns 1,340,045 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $170,119,000 after buying an additional 269,706 shares during the last quarter. 99.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on NTRA shares. StockNews.com raised shares of Natera from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Craig Hallum upped their target price on Natera from $121.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Barclays assumed coverage on Natera in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Natera from $160.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Natera from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $173.56.
Check Out Our Latest Report on NTRA
In other news, insider John Fesko sold 669 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.60, for a total transaction of $106,772.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 114,142 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,217,063.20. The trade was a 0.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Michael Burkes Brophy sold 25,931 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.97, for a total value of $4,277,837.07. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 109,665 shares in the company, valued at $18,091,435.05. The trade was a 19.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 294,946 shares of company stock valued at $47,212,702. 7.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Shares of NASDAQ NTRA traded up $4.48 on Wednesday, reaching $144.50. 2,561,540 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,340,625. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $164.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $148.28. Natera, Inc. has a 12 month low of $83.13 and a 12 month high of $183.00. The company has a market cap of $19.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -82.10 and a beta of 1.80. The company has a quick ratio of 4.23, a current ratio of 4.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.
Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The medical research company reported ($0.41) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.42) by $0.01. The company had revenue of $476.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $447.91 million. Natera had a negative net margin of 14.01% and a negative return on equity of 26.23%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Natera, Inc. will post -1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Natera, Inc, a diagnostics company, develops and commercializes molecular testing services worldwide. Its products include Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities of a fetus, as well as in twin pregnancies; Horizon carrier screening test for individuals and couples determine if they are carriers of genetic variations that cause certain genetic conditions; Vistara single-gene NIPT screens for 25 single-gene disorders that cause severe skeletal, cardiac, and neurological conditions; Spectrum, preimplantation genetic tests for couples undergoing IVF; Anora that analyzes miscarriage tissue from women; Empower, a hereditary cancer screening test; and non-invasive prenatal paternity product, which allows a couple to establish paternity without waiting for the child to be born.
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