37,352 Shares in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) Acquired by ING Groep NV

ING Groep NV purchased a new position in shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 37,352 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,812,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Swedbank AB acquired a new stake in shares of Centene in the first quarter worth about $914,080,000. Capital International Investors boosted its position in Centene by 60.2% during the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 5,216,486 shares of the company's stock worth $409,390,000 after purchasing an additional 1,959,460 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Centene by 22.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,461,517 shares of the company's stock valued at $295,799,000 after purchasing an additional 832,318 shares during the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in shares of Centene by 14.2% in the second quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 5,113,759 shares of the company's stock worth $339,042,000 after buying an additional 636,683 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its holdings in shares of Centene by 42.3% during the 2nd quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 1,400,276 shares of the company's stock worth $92,838,000 after buying an additional 416,003 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.63% of the company's stock.

Centene Price Performance

Shares of CNC stock traded down $1.22 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $57.46. The company had a trading volume of 8,033,605 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,465,050. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.98, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.49. Centene Co. has a 12 month low of $57.25 and a 12 month high of $81.42. The firm's fifty day moving average is $68.06 and its 200 day moving average is $71.00.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $90.00 target price on shares of Centene in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Oppenheimer lowered their target price on Centene from $110.00 to $95.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Centene from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Centene from $80.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on shares of Centene from $96.00 to $88.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $83.92.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher purchased 17,200 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $58.14 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,008.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now directly owns 486,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,305,284.58. The trade was a 3.66 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sarah London bought 4,117 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $60.80 per share, for a total transaction of $250,313.60. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 667,229 shares in the company, valued at approximately $40,567,523.20. The trade was a 0.62 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Centene Profile

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children's health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.