Polianta Ltd Acquires 6,500 Shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC)

Polianta Ltd increased its stake in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 41.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,100 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 6,500 shares during the period. Centene comprises about 0.6% of Polianta Ltd's investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Polianta Ltd's holdings in Centene were worth $1,338,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Harris Associates L P raised its stake in Centene by 5.7% during the third quarter. Harris Associates L P now owns 26,314,183 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,980,932,000 after buying an additional 1,420,825 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in Centene by 0.5% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 23,468,159 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,766,683,000 after purchasing an additional 111,654 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its holdings in shares of Centene by 3.5% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 5,768,534 shares of the company's stock worth $434,255,000 after purchasing an additional 194,566 shares during the period. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its position in shares of Centene by 14.2% in the 2nd 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, AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Centene by 22.9% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,461,517 shares of the company's stock valued at $295,799,000 after buying an additional 832,318 shares during the last quarter. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Centene Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CNC traded down $0.68 on Monday, reaching $62.19. 4,387,651 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,481,287. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.40 billion, a PE ratio of 10.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.45. The company's 50 day moving average is $60.12 and its 200-day moving average is $67.33. Centene Co. has a fifty-two week low of $55.03 and a fifty-two week high of $81.42.

Insider Activity at Centene

In other news, Director Thomas Greco acquired 17,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $59.75 per share, for a total transaction of $1,015,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 19,309 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,153,712.75. This trade represents a 736.25 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher purchased 17,200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $58.14 per share, for a total transaction of $1,000,008.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 486,847 shares of the company's stock, valued at $28,305,284.58. This trade represents a 3.66 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased 45,010 shares of company stock worth $2,660,276 in the last quarter. 0.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Centene from a "hold" rating to an "underperform" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $68.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. UBS Group raised shares of Centene from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $79.00 to $80.00 in a report on Friday, December 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $90.00 price objective on shares of Centene in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Stephens dropped their price target on shares of Centene from $75.00 to $73.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their price objective on Centene from $83.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $80.92.

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.