WCM Investment Management LLC Purchases 73,419 Shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) by 101.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 145,996 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 73,419 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.12% of Natera worth $9,058,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NTRA. RiverPark Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Natera in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Natera during the 3rd quarter worth about $44,000. CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of Natera by 224.4% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,317 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 911 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Natera by 186.4% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,248 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $80,000 after acquiring an additional 1,463 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Natera by 215.2% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,049 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 1,399 shares in the last quarter. 99.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Natera Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:NTRA traded down $2.24 during trading on Friday, reaching $94.47. 959,947 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,413,546. Natera, Inc. has a 12 month low of $36.90 and a 12 month high of $98.82. The firm has a market cap of $11.41 billion, a PE ratio of -24.93 and a beta of 1.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $84.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $64.60. The company has a current ratio of 4.10, a quick ratio of 3.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 28th. The medical research company reported ($0.64) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.73) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $311.11 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $300.38 million. Natera had a negative return on equity of 62.19% and a negative net margin of 40.16%. Research analysts expect that Natera, Inc. will post -2.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Craig Hallum assumed coverage on Natera in a research note on Monday, April 8th. They set a "buy" rating and a $117.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Natera from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. BTIG Research raised their price target on Natera from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their price target on Natera from $87.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Natera from $70.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $85.73.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Jonathan Sheena sold 26,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.47, for a total transaction of $2,468,949.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 321,031 shares in the company, valued at $29,685,736.57. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 1,958 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.16, for a total value of $133,457.28. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 175,550 shares in the company, valued at $11,965,488. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathan Sheena sold 26,700 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.47, for a total value of $2,468,949.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 321,031 shares of the company's stock, valued at $29,685,736.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 366,477 shares of company stock worth $28,552,682 over the last three months. Insiders own 9.42% of the company's stock.

About Natera

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.