Erste Asset Management GmbH Invests $2.24 Million in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

Erste Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 14,000 shares of the medical research company's stock, valued at approximately $2,244,000.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in 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 valued at $355,493,000 after purchasing an additional 1,883,481 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in Natera by 3.6% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,482,818 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $315,194,000 after purchasing an additional 85,236 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Natera by 7.4% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,090,480 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $265,747,000 after purchasing an additional 143,825 shares during the last quarter. Maverick Capital Ltd. lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 269,706 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Castle Hook Partners LP lifted its holdings in Natera by 27.4% during the third quarter. Castle Hook Partners LP now owns 1,140,090 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $144,734,000 after purchasing an additional 245,505 shares during the last quarter. 99.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Natera Price Performance

NASDAQ NTRA traded up $4.59 on Wednesday, reaching $150.87. 2,162,889 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,346,669. Natera, Inc. has a 12 month low of $83.13 and a 12 month high of $183.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 4.39 and a quick ratio of 4.23. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $162.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $149.26. The stock has a market cap of $20.40 billion, a PE ratio of -85.72 and a beta of 1.80.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The medical research company reported ($0.41) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.42) by $0.01. Natera had a negative net margin of 14.01% and a negative return on equity of 26.23%. The business had revenue of $476.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $447.91 million. As a group, research analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.49 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NTRA has been the topic of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Natera from $160.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. StockNews.com raised shares of Natera from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Natera from $176.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Natera in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Natera from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Natera currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $178.12.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natera

In other news, CFO Michael Burkes Brophy sold 43,502 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $176.88, for a total transaction of $7,694,633.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 70,629 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,492,857.52. This represents a 38.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider John Fesko sold 669 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.60, for a total transaction of $106,772.40. Following the sale, the insider now owns 114,142 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $18,217,063.20. This represents a 0.58 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 298,946 shares of company stock worth $47,803,462 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 7.60% of the company's stock.

Natera Company Profile

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.