Vantage Investment Partners LLC Buys 109,839 Shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC)

Vantage Investment Partners LLC increased its position in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC) by 16.1% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 793,656 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 109,839 shares during the period. Centene accounts for about 4.2% of Vantage Investment Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Vantage Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Centene were worth $48,080,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of CNC. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Centene by 2.1% in the third quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,082 shares of the company’s stock valued at $608,000 after buying an additional 167 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Centene by 6.2% in the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,722 shares of the company’s stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. CX Institutional increased its position in Centene by 7.3% during the 3rd quarter. CX Institutional now owns 3,919 shares of the company’s stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the period. Forte Capital LLC ADV lifted its position in shares of Centene by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Forte Capital LLC ADV now owns 5,320 shares of the company’s stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the period. Finally, GAM Holding AG boosted its stake in shares of Centene by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. GAM Holding AG now owns 88,973 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,698,000 after purchasing an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.63% of the company’s stock.

Centene Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CNC opened at $65.88 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $60.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.25. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. Centene Co. has a twelve month low of $55.03 and a twelve month high of $81.42. The company has a market capitalization of $33.26 billion, a PE ratio of 11.44, a PEG ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.45.

Insider Transactions at Centene

In other news, Director Theodore R. Samuels II acquired 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $58.86 per share, for a total transaction of $294,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 23,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,353,780. The trade was a 27.78 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Thomas Greco bought 17,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $59.75 per share, for a total transaction of $1,015,750.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 19,309 shares in the company, valued at $1,153,712.75. This trade represents a 736.25 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 45,010 shares of company stock worth $2,660,276 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.33% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on CNC shares. StockNews.com upgraded Centene from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday. Stephens cut their target price on shares of Centene from $75.00 to $73.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Centene from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Centene in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Centene from a “hold” rating to an “underperform” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $52.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $80.92.

Centene Profile

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children’s health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.