Principal Financial Group Inc. Sells 317,831 Shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

Principal Financial Group Inc. reduced its holdings in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) by 31.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 694,667 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 317,831 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.53% of Natera worth $109,966,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D increased its stake in shares of Natera by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 43,584 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $6,899,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP grew its holdings in Natera by 66.8% in the fourth quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP now owns 1,655 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 663 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in Natera by 20.7% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 344 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Natera by 190.2% during the fourth quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 505 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares during the period. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Natera during the 4th quarter worth about $126,000. 99.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Natera

In other Natera news, CFO Michael Burkes Brophy sold 946 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.98, for a total value of $162,693.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 109,474 shares in the company, valued at $18,827,338.52. This trade represents a 0.86 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider John Fesko sold 663 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.77, for a total transaction of $117,861.51. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 156,044 shares of the company's stock, valued at $27,739,941.88. This trade represents a 0.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 295,772 shares of company stock worth $49,741,699. 7.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on NTRA shares. Barclays began coverage on Natera in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Natera from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Natera from $160.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Craig Hallum lifted their price target on shares of Natera from $121.00 to $157.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Natera from $120.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $170.94.

Natera Stock Performance

NASDAQ NTRA traded down $5.88 on Friday, hitting $162.31. 1,604,242 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,342,687. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -92.22 and a beta of 1.66. The business's fifty day moving average is $168.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $144.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 4.23 and a current ratio of 4.39. Natera, Inc. has a 12 month low of $69.74 and a 12 month high of $183.00.

About Natera

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.