Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA – Get Rating) by 7.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 757,872 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 58,434 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.79% of Natera worth $30,830,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its position in Natera by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 2,904 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of Natera by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 22,717 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,122,000 after acquiring an additional 1,157 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Natera by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 135,462 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $12,651,000 after purchasing an additional 9,750 shares in the last quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Natera by 153.7% in the 4th quarter. Silvant Capital Management LLC now owns 24,079 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $2,249,000 after purchasing an additional 14,586 shares during the period. Finally, Monashee Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Natera by 57.1% during the fourth quarter. Monashee Investment Management LLC now owns 55,000 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $5,136,000 after purchasing an additional 20,000 shares in the last quarter. 96.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Natera Stock Performance

NASDAQ NTRA opened at $56.68 on Tuesday. Natera, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $26.10 and a fifty-two week high of $129.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.50 billion, a P/E ratio of -9.35 and a beta of 1.33. The stock's fifty day moving average is $42.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $44.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 3.46 and a current ratio of 3.58.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 1,652 shares of Natera stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.76, for a total transaction of $59,075.52. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 64,777 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,316,425.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, COO Robert Alan Schueren sold 572 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.26, for a total value of $26,460.72. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 572 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,460.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Steven Leonard Chapman sold 1,652 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.76, for a total transaction of $59,075.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 64,777 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,316,425.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 13,966 shares of company stock valued at $550,755 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 10.27% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on NTRA shares. Cowen reduced their target price on Natera from $110.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Friday, May 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Natera to a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 11th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on shares of Natera from $100.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Friday, May 6th. Cowen lowered their price objective on Natera from $110.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, May 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Natera from $80.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Natera currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $92.73.

Natera Profile

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Natera, Inc, a diagnostics company, develops and commercializes molecular testing services worldwide. It offers Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities of a fetus with a blood draw from the mother, as well as twin pregnancies for zygosity; Vistara, a single-gene mutations screening test to identify single-gene disorder; Horizon carrier screening to determine carrier status for various genetic diseases; and Spectrum to identify chromosomal anomalies or inherited genetic conditions during an in vitro fertilization cycle.

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