Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) Reaches New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRA)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday. The stock traded as high as $429.97 and last traded at $430.7150, with a volume of 2233 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $425.64.

More Natera News

Here are the key news stories impacting Natera this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Expanding Signatera clinical program: Natera and Alliance Foundation Trials announced AFT-70 NAVIGATE, a global randomized Phase III trial evaluating Genentech’s oral selective estrogen receptor degrader in breast cancer. Natera is providing its Signatera molecular residual disease (MRD) testing, potentially expanding the test’s role in treatment decisions. AFT-70 NAVIGATE trial article
• Positive Sentiment: New melanoma study begins: Natera announced a randomized, Signatera-guided interventional study in melanoma, while a separate study evaluating Signatera’s ability to identify skin cancer earlier began enrollment. Successful results could support broader adoption of the company’s oncology testing platform. Melanoma study article
• Positive Sentiment: Additional oncology evidence: New Signatera data presented at the ASTRO conference highlighted potential utility for radiation oncologists, adding to the evidence supporting clinical use of the test. ASTRO Signatera data article
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Guggenheim raised its NTRA price target to $475 from $360 and maintained a Buy rating, reinforcing bullish sentiment around Natera’s growth prospects. Guggenheim price target article
• Neutral Sentiment: Strong but demanding valuation: Natera’s latest reported revenue increased 37.7% year over year to $752.75 million and exceeded estimates, but the company remained unprofitable. The stock’s sharp rise toward its yearly high increases sensitivity to profit-taking and valuation concerns.
• Negative Sentiment: Profit-taking after record levels: NTRA declined after touching a new annual high, with the retreat described as a sizable one-session loss. The move suggests investors are locking in gains rather than reacting to a deterioration in the company’s clinical outlook. Natera price swing article
• Negative Sentiment: CEO stock sale: CEO Steven Chapman sold 1,273 shares worth approximately $526,000 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The sale was only 1.3% of his direct holdings, limiting its significance, but it may add to near-term selling pressure. Natera insider sale article

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NTRA has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Natera from $290.00 to $435.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th. Leerink Partners set a $330.00 price target on shares of Natera in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Natera in a report on Friday, June 26th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $310.00 price objective for the company. Stephens raised their price target on Natera from $305.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price objective on Natera from $360.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Natera currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $353.45.

Natera Trading Down 1.3%

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $341.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $265.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $57.02 billion, a PE ratio of -290.85 and a beta of 1.50.

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The medical research company reported ($0.47) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.49) by $0.02. Natera had a negative return on equity of 11.38% and a negative net margin of 7.11%.The company had revenue of $752.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $661.24 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.74) earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 37.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Natera, Inc. will post -1.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Solomon Moshkevich sold 3,000 shares of Natera stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $414.22, for a total transaction of $1,242,660.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 106,914 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $44,285,917.08. The trade was a 2.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, insider John Fesko sold 6,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $321.53, for a total transaction of $2,095,411.01. Following the transaction, the insider owned 197,257 shares in the company, valued at $63,424,043.21. The trade was a 3.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders have sold 52,985 shares of company stock valued at $16,119,137 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 5.05% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Natera

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new stake in Natera during the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Natera during the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. Continuum Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Natera during the second quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Reflection Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Natera during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Natera in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.90% of the company’s stock.

Natera Company Profile

Natera, Inc is a diagnostics company that develops and commercializes molecular testing services designed to assess genetic and disease-related risks. The company uses technologies including cell-free DNA analysis and next-generation sequencing to support clinical decision-making in reproductive health, oncology and organ transplantation.

Its reproductive health offerings include Panorama, a noninvasive prenatal test that screens for certain chromosomal conditions, and Horizon, a carrier screening test that evaluates whether prospective parents carry genetic variants associated with inherited disorders.