Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) Shares Acquired by Natixis Advisors LLC

Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 414,960 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 30,141 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC owned 0.08% of Centene worth $31,238,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on CNC. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Centene from $83.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Centene from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Barclays decreased their price objective on Centene from $97.00 to $91.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Centene from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $83.00 to $69.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased 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. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $83.92.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Sarah London purchased 4,117 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $60.80 per share, for a total transaction of $250,313.60. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 667,229 shares in the company, valued at $40,567,523.20. This trade represents a 0.62 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher acquired 17,200 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $58.14 per share, with a total value of $1,000,008.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief financial officer now 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 disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Centene Price Performance

Centene stock traded up $1.37 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $58.83. 5,089,677 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,006,658. The company has a market capitalization of $29.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.98, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.49. 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's 50-day simple moving average is $68.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.99. Centene Co. has a 1 year low of $57.20 and a 1 year high of $81.42.

Centene Company 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.