Shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Buy" from the seventeen ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $178.12.
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group increased 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. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on shares of Natera from $160.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Barclays initiated coverage on Natera in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. Guggenheim increased their price target on Natera from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Finally, BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating on shares of Natera in a report on Friday, February 28th.
View Our Latest Report on Natera
Natera Stock Performance
NTRA traded up $5.71 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $148.22. The company had a trading volume of 1,653,873 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,345,754. The business has a 50-day moving average of $164.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $148.21. 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 has a 1 year low of $83.13 and a 1 year high of $183.00. The company has a market cap of $20.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -84.22 and a beta of 1.80.
Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 27th. The medical research company reported ($0.41) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.42) by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $476.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 predict that Natera will post -1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling at Natera
In related news, insider John Fesko sold 669 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.60, for a total value of $106,772.40. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 114,142 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,217,063.20. This represents a 0.58 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 87,272 shares of Natera stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.40, for a total value of $12,514,804.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 203,354 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $29,160,963.60. This represents a 30.03 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 294,946 shares of company stock valued at $47,212,702 in the last three months. Company insiders own 7.60% of the company's stock.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natera
Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Natera by 27.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 86,144 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $10,936,000 after acquiring an additional 18,316 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Natera in the third quarter valued at $385,000. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Natera during the 4th quarter worth about $573,000. Alpha DNA Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Natera in the 3rd quarter valued at about $505,000. Finally, First Turn Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Natera in the third quarter worth about $19,760,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.90% of the company's stock.
About Natera
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Get Free ReportNatera, 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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