Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA) have earned an average recommendation of “Buy” from the fifteen analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $152.67.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Natera from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Natera from $120.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their target price on shares of Natera from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Natera from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on shares of Natera from $150.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th.

Natera Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:NTRA opened at $160.26 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.16 billion, a P/E ratio of -91.06 and a beta of 1.63. Natera has a 1-year low of $58.53 and a 1-year high of $175.63. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $150.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $128.12. 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) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The medical research company reported ($0.26) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.57) by $0.31. The company had revenue of $439.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $361.43 million. Natera had a negative net margin of 14.01% and a negative return on equity of 26.23%. Natera’s quarterly revenue was up 63.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.95) EPS. Research analysts expect that Natera will post -1.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Natera

In related news, insider Solomon Moshkevich sold 256 shares of Natera stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.07, for a total transaction of $30,737.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 111,891 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,434,752.37. The trade was a 0.23 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider John Fesko sold 669 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.60, for a total value of $106,772.40. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 114,142 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,217,063.20. This represents a 0.58 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 130,932 shares of company stock worth $21,012,440 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Natera in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of Natera by 148.4% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 318 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Natera by 34.3% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 372 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Natera by 32.7% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 430 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in Natera during the 3rd quarter worth $57,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.90% 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.