UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC)

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC - Free Report) by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,768,534 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 194,566 shares during the quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned 1.14% of Centene worth $434,255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vantage Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Centene by 17.1% during the third quarter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC now owns 683,817 shares of the company's stock valued at $51,478,000 after acquiring an additional 99,904 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co lifted its holdings in Centene by 35.8% during the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 28,009 shares of the company's stock worth $1,857,000 after buying an additional 7,385 shares during the period. Comerica Bank grew its position in shares of Centene by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 118,597 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,307,000 after buying an additional 8,103 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service increased its stake in shares of Centene by 15.4% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,435,482 shares of the company's stock valued at $108,063,000 after buying an additional 191,768 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of Centene by 526.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 56,230 shares of the company's stock worth $4,413,000 after acquiring an additional 47,257 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 93.63% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Sarah London purchased 4,117 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $60.80 per share, with a total value of $250,313.60. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 667,229 shares of the company's stock, valued at $40,567,523.20. This represents a 0.62 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Andrew Lynn Asher bought 17,200 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $58.14 per share, with a total value of $1,000,008.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer now owns 486,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $28,305,284.58. This represents a 3.66 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Centene Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:CNC traded up $0.08 during trading on Friday, reaching $60.01. 2,380,159 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,044,423. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $65.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.93. Centene Co. has a 1-year low of $57.20 and a 1-year high of $81.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $30.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.49.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on CNC. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price 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. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective on shares of Centene from $96.00 to $88.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Centene from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com downgraded Centene from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Stephens restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $78.00 target price on shares of Centene in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $83.92.

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.