Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) Reports Quarterly Earnings, Surpasses Expectations by $0.01 EPS

Natera (NASDAQ:NTRA) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, providing insights into the company's financial performance. The medical research firm reported earnings per share (EPS) of ($0.41) for the quarter, which exceeded analysts' expectations of ($0.42) by $0.01, as noted by financial news sources. Despite this positive surprise, Natera reported a negative net margin of 14.01% and a negative return on equity of 26.23%.

Natera Price Performance

During the trading session on Thursday, Natera's stock price saw a decline of $3.95, bringing it to $156.61 per share. The trading volume for the day was 2,326,793 shares, significantly higher than the average volume of 1,399,538. Over the past year, Natera has registered a low of $75.18 and a high of $183.00. The company's market capitalization stands at approximately $20.68 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of -88.98 and a beta factor of 1.66. Additionally, Natera has recorded a 50-day moving average of $167.59 and a 200-day moving average of $146.60, with a quick ratio of 4.23 and a current ratio of 4.39, alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

Wall Street Analysts' Outlook

Recent reports from several Wall Street analysts indicate a positive outlook for Natera. For instance, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target for Natera from $160.00 to $200.00, assigning an "overweight" rating. Similarly, Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a price target of $180.00. Craig Hallum also increased their price target from $121.00 to $157.00, reinforcing a "buy" rating for the company. Goldman Sachs Group has lifted their target price from $160.00 to $190.00 with a "buy" rating, while Barclays initiated coverage with an "overweight" rating and a $200.00 target. Overall, one analyst has rated the stock as a sell, while sixteen have assigned it a buy rating, leading to a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $170.94.

Insider Transactions at Natera

In related news, insider John Fesko sold 663 shares of Natera's stock on February 6, receiving $117,861.51 at an average price of $177.77. Following this transaction, Fesko holds 156,044 shares valued at approximately $27,739,941.88. Additionally, director Roelof Botha sold 87,473 shares on December 2, totaling $14,793,433.76 with an average price of $169.12. After this sale, Botha owns 1,224,787 shares valued at around $207,135,977.44. In total, insiders have sold 295,772 shares valued at $49,741,699 in the past 90 days, and corporate insiders currently own about 7.60% of the company's stock.

Natera Company Overview

Natera, Inc. specializes in developing and commercializing molecular testing services worldwide. Its portfolio includes products like Panorama, a non-invasive prenatal test for detecting chromosomal abnormalities; Horizon, a carrier screening test for genetic conditions; Vistara, a single-gene test; Spectrum, genetic tests for IVF; Anora, which analyzes miscarriage tissues; Empower, a hereditary cancer screening test; and a non-invasive prenatal paternity product.

Conclusion

With the latest earnings results and positive analyst forecasts, Natera remains an interesting company to watch in the healthcare sector. Investors should keep an eye on its developments and financial health in the future.

Earnings, Finance, Stocks