First Horizon Advisors Inc. Lowers Stock Holdings in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)

First Horizon Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA) by 8.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,667 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 163 shares during the quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Natera were worth $264,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new position in Natera during the 4th quarter worth $147,000. Boston Financial Mangement LLC acquired a new position in shares of Natera during the fourth quarter worth about $225,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its holdings in Natera by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 104,100 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $16,479,000 after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares in the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC lifted its position in Natera by 551.2% in the fourth quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 61,005 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $9,657,000 after purchasing an additional 51,637 shares during the period. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its position in Natera by 55.0% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 434 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. 99.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on NTRA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Natera from $160.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Natera from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Craig Hallum boosted their target price on shares of Natera from $121.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 13th. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Natera from $120.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Finally, Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Natera in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $200.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $170.94.

Insider Activity at Natera

In related news, insider John Fesko sold 663 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.77, for a total transaction of $117,861.51. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 156,044 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,739,941.88. This represents a 0.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Michael Burkes Brophy sold 43,502 shares of Natera stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $176.88, for a total transaction of $7,694,633.76. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 70,629 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,492,857.52. The trade was a 38.12 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 295,772 shares of company stock valued at $49,741,699. 7.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Natera Stock Down 1.5 %

NTRA stock opened at $156.00 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 4.39 and a quick ratio of 4.23. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $167.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $146.50. Natera, Inc. has a 12 month low of $70.71 and a 12 month high of $183.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.60 billion, a PE ratio of -88.64 and a beta of 1.66.

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.