Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) Shares Sold by Swedbank AB

Swedbank AB trimmed its holdings in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 68.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,697,105 shares of the company's stock after selling 3,703,205 shares during the period. Swedbank AB owned 0.34% of Centene worth $102,811,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of CNC. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Centene by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,082 shares of the company's stock worth $608,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Centene by 6.2% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,722 shares of the company's stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. CX Institutional boosted its stake in Centene by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 3,919 shares of the company's stock worth $295,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Forte Capital LLC ADV increased its stake in shares of Centene by 5.5% during the 3rd quarter. Forte Capital LLC ADV now owns 5,320 shares of the company's stock valued at $400,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAM Holding AG lifted its holdings in shares of Centene by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 88,973 shares of the company's stock worth $6,698,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the period. 93.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Centene

In other Centene news, Director H James Dallas bought 1,693 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $59.01 per share, with a total value of $99,903.93. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,693 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $99,903.93. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Thomas Greco acquired 17,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were bought at an average price of $59.75 per share, with a total value of $1,015,750.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 19,309 shares in the company, valued at $1,153,712.75. The trade was a 736.25 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders purchased 45,010 shares of company stock valued at $2,660,276. Insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Centene Stock Up 0.3 %

NYSE CNC traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $64.11. 1,014,462 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,022,442. Centene Co. has a 1-year low of $55.03 and a 1-year high of $81.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The company has a market cap of $32.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $67.19.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CNC. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Centene from a "hold" rating to an "underperform" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $75.00 price objective (down from $80.00) on shares of Centene in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. UBS Group raised shares of Centene from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $79.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Friday, December 13th. StockNews.com raised shares of Centene from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on shares of Centene from $83.00 to $66.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $80.92.

About Centene

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.