Neuberger Berman Group LLC Buys 5,564 Shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its stake in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA - Free Report) by 3.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 164,078 shares of the medical research company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,564 shares during the quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC owned 0.12% of Natera worth $25,974,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in Natera by 104.3% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 190 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in shares of Natera by 345.8% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 214 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Natera by 372.9% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 331 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 261 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in Natera by 20.7% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 344 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of Natera by 1,328.0% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 357 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.90% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Natera

In other Natera news, insider Solomon Moshkevich sold 24,861 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.97, for a total transaction of $4,101,319.17. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 140,684 shares of the company's stock, valued at $23,208,639.48. The trade was a 15.02 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Gail Boxer Marcus sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.78, for a total transaction of $563,120.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,704 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,366,129.12. This trade represents a 29.19 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 325,922 shares of company stock worth $51,603,664 in the last 90 days. 7.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Natera Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ NTRA traded down $1.36 on Wednesday, hitting $150.38. The company's stock had a trading volume of 199,967 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,388,324. Natera, Inc. has a 12-month low of $83.13 and a 12-month high of $183.00. The company has a market capitalization of $20.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -85.44 and a beta of 1.80. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $151.62 and a 200-day moving average of $152.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 4.39 and a quick ratio of 4.23.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The medical research company reported ($0.41) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.42) by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $476.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $447.91 million. Natera had a negative net margin of 14.01% and a negative return on equity of 26.23%. As a group, research analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.49 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on Natera in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $251.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on Natera from $200.00 to $160.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Natera from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Natera from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, January 17th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Natera from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $175.76.

Natera 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.