Empowered Funds LLC Has $6.02 Million Stake in Natera, Inc. $NTRA

Key Points

• Empowered Funds LLC has increased its stake in Natera, Inc. by 11.6%, purchasing an additional 4,425 shares in the first quarter, bringing its total holdings to 42,543 shares worth approximately $6.01 million.
• Several institutional investors increased their positions in Natera during the fourth quarter, with Captrust Financial Advisors raising its holdings by 36% and Deutsche Bank AG by 26.6%.
• Natera's stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" with a target price of $194.00, despite a recent downgrade from Wall Street Zen to a "sell" rating.

Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) by 11.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 42,543 shares of the medical research company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,425 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC's holdings in Natera were worth $6,016,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of NTRA. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust acquired a new position in shares of Natera in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of Natera by 117.8% in the first quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 220 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Natera in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. TCTC Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Natera by 114.8% in the first quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 232 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of Natera by 83.5% in the first quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 233 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. 99.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Natera Trading Down 3.0%

Shares of NTRA traded down $5.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $168.51. The company had a trading volume of 853,091 shares, compared to its average volume of 945,987. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $155.18 and its 200 day simple moving average is $154.12. Natera, Inc. has a 1-year low of $117.27 and a 1-year high of $183.00.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The medical research company reported ($0.74) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.60) by ($0.14). Natera had a negative net margin of 12.89% and a negative return on equity of 22.22%. The company had revenue of $546.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $476.84 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.30) earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 32.2% on a year-over-year basis. Natera has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Natera news, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 6,092 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.81, for a total transaction of $851,722.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 169,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,683,814. This trade represents a 3.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Gail Boxer Marcus sold 4,299 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.36, for a total transaction of $719,480.64. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,118 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,358,628.48. The trade was a 34.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 56,423 shares of company stock worth $8,459,656. 5.63% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NTRA has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Natera from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 17th. Stephens reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $183.00 price objective on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Natera to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $170.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Piper Sandler reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $220.00 price objective (up from $210.00) on shares of Natera in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $210.00 price objective (up from $190.00) on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seventeen have given a Buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $194.00.

Natera Company Profile

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.