West Michigan Advisors LLC Acquires Stake in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

West Michigan Advisors LLC announced the acquisition of a new stake in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA) during the fourth quarter. This information was disclosed in the firm’s latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, the firm acquired a total of 3,893 shares of the medical research company, with an estimated value of around $616,000.

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Several other large investors have also adjusted their holdings in Natera recently. For instance, Principal Securities Inc. increased its stake in Natera by 20.7% during the fourth quarter, bringing its total holdings to 344 shares, valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares. Similarly, Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC enhanced its position in Natera by 1.7%, now holding 3,629 shares valued at $574,000 after buying another 61 shares. Other firms like Silver Oak Securities Incorporated, Covestor Ltd, and Blue Trust Inc. have also increased their stakes in Natera. Notably, Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings by an impressive 104.3%, owning 190 shares worth $30,000 after an acquisition of 97 shares. Interestingly, institutional investors currently own about 99.90% of Natera's stock.

Analyst Insights on Natera

Natera has recently been featured in multiple research reports. Craig Hallum increased their price target for Natera’s shares from $121.00 to $157.00 and assigned a "buy" rating in their report. Similarly, TD Cowen raised their price target from $155.00 to $175.00, also giving a "buy" signal. Morgan Stanley increased their price target for Natera shares from $132.00 to $176.00, while Barclays initiated coverage with an "overweight" rating and a target of $200.00. However, StockNews.com downgraded the stock from a "hold" to a "sell" rating. While one analyst has issued a sell rating, a total of sixteen analysts recommend buying the stock, leading to a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by analysts, with an average target price of $172.69.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NTRA

Natera Stock Performance

The stock for Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) opened at $155.59 on Friday. In terms of financial ratios, the company has a quick ratio of 4.23, a current ratio of 4.39, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The fifty-day moving average for Natera shares is $167.56, while the 200-day moving average stands at $146.67. Natera has a market capitalization of $20.54 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of -88.40 and a beta of 1.66. Over the past year, shares have reached a low of $83.13 and a high of $183.00.

The most recent quarterly earnings report from Natera, released on February 27, featured earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.41), which surpassed the estimated EPS of ($0.42) by $0.01. The company reported a negative net margin of 14.01% and a return on equity of -26.23%. However, it managed revenue of $476.10 million for the quarter, which was above analyst projections of $447.91 million. Analysts forecast that Natera will post earnings of -1.49 per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Natera

In related news, insider John Fesko sold 669 shares of Natera on December 23. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.60, totaling approximately $106,772. Following this sale, Fesko now owns 114,142 shares, valued at about $18,217,063.20, marking a decrease of 0.58% in their holdings. Additionally, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 78,553 shares on January 22 at an average price of $164.97, amounting to $12,958,888.41 for the transaction. Post-sale, Chapman retains ownership of 267,629 shares, valued at approximately $44,150,756.13, reflecting a decrease of 22.69% in their stock ownership. Over the last 90 days, a total of 295,772 shares worth $49,741,699 have been sold by insiders, who currently hold about 7.60% of the company’s stock.

About Natera

Natera, Inc. is a diagnostics company that specializes in developing and commercializing molecular testing services on a global scale. Its product lineup includes Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test for chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses, including those in twin pregnancies; the Horizon carrier screening test that identifies genetic variations in individuals and couples; Vistara, which screens for various single-gene disorders; Spectrum, a preimplantation genetic testing service for in vitro fertilization (IVF) couples; Anora, which analyzes miscarriage tissue; and Empower, a hereditary cancer screening test.

Investment Considerations

Before deciding to invest in Natera, it is essential to take into account various recommendations from top analysts. Some analysts suggest looking into stocks they consider superior to Natera, as they may offer a better buying opportunity.

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