18,255 Shares of Natera, Inc. $NTRA Bought by Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd.

Key Points

• Mirae Asset Global Investments opened a new Natera position, buying 18,255 shares worth approximately $7.545 million in the third quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively owned 99.90% of the company’s stock.
• Natera’s quarterly revenue rose 37.7% year over year to $752.75 million, beating the $661.24 million consensus estimate; its loss per share of $0.47 was also slightly better than expected.
• Analyst sentiment was broadly positive, with a MarketBeat consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $394.31. Shares opened at $391.03, near that consensus target.

Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 18,255 shares of the medical research company's stock, valued at approximately $7,545,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Profund Advisors LLC grew its stake in Natera by 5.6% during the third quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 6,553 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $2,708,000 after buying an additional 348 shares during the period. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its position in shares of Natera by 5.3% in the third quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 2,010 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $831,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Americana Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Natera in the 3rd quarter valued at $203,000. LJI Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Natera in the 3rd quarter valued at $207,000. Finally, Canopy Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Natera during the 3rd quarter valued at $211,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.90% of the company's stock.

Natera Stock Performance

Shares of Natera stock opened at $391.03 on Thursday. Natera, Inc. has a 1-year low of $181.00 and a 1-year high of $437.41. The business has a 50-day moving average of $380.30 and a 200-day moving average of $268.64.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The medical research company reported ($0.47) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.49) by $0.02. The business had revenue of $752.75 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $661.24 million. Natera had a negative net margin of 7.11% and a negative return on equity of 11.38%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 37.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.74) earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natera

In related news, CFO Michael Brophy sold 470 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $391.49, for a total value of $184,000.30. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 45,779 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $17,922,020.71. This trade represents a 1.02% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Solomon Moshkevich sold 3,419 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $409.77, for a total value of $1,401,003.63. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 101,323 shares in the company, valued at $41,519,125.71. The trade was a 3.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold 53,573 shares of company stock worth $19,856,400 in the last ninety days. 5.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Natera News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Natera this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Medicare coverage for Signatera in HCC could improve patient access and support adoption of Natera’s cancer-monitoring tests. The coverage milestone adds to the commercial opportunity for its oncology business. Natera Medicare coverage for Signatera in HCC
• Positive Sentiment: New ESMO oncology evidence was described as broadening the case for Natera’s cancer-testing portfolio, potentially reinforcing the longer-term growth story. ESMO data broaden Natera’s oncology case
• Neutral Sentiment: Natera was expected to report earnings on November 5, making results and management’s outlook a near-term catalyst; the preview article did not provide reported results. Natera earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: The reported analyst consensus price target was $394.31, close to the share price cited in the provided market background, suggesting limited implied upside from that target alone. Natera consensus target price
• Neutral Sentiment: CFO Michael Brophy sold 1,178 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan and retained 48,480 shares. The scheduled nature and relatively small size of the sale may temper its significance as a signal about management’s outlook. CFO share sale report

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BTIG Research upped their price target on shares of Natera from $320.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Natera from $350.00 to $460.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Natera from $340.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Natera in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Roth Capital assumed coverage on Natera in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $475.00 target price for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have issued a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Natera presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $394.31.

Natera Profile

Natera, Inc is a diagnostics company that develops and commercializes molecular testing services designed to provide personalized genetic and genomic information. Its tests are used across reproductive health, oncology and organ transplantation, with the company combining next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics to analyze DNA and monitor disease-related signals.

In reproductive health, Natera offers Panorama noninvasive prenatal screening, Horizon carrier screening and Vistara single-gene disorder screening.

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