Skip to main content
This section contains press releases and other materials from third parties (including paid content). The Globe and Mail has not reviewed this content. Please see disclaimer.

Natera, UFP Technologies, Mettler-Toledo, and Viatris Shares Are Soaring, What You Need To Know

StockStory - StockStory - Fri Apr 17, 3:16PM CDT
NTRA

NTRA Cover Image

What Happened?

A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz signaled a cooling of global logistics and energy costs. 

For healthcare providers and medical device manufacturers, lower oil prices directly reduce the cost of operating large hospital facilities and shipping sensitive medical equipment. This margin relief is vital for a sector that has been squeezed by high transportation overhead, allowing for a more favorable outlook on quarterly earnings. The "risk-on" sentiment sparked by the ceasefire is also driving capital back into high-growth biotech and pharmaceutical names. 

As broader market volatility recedes, investors are more willing to fund long-term R&D and clinical trials that were previously shadowed by macroeconomic uncertainty. The stabilization of the global economy ensures that both elective procedures and pharmaceutical demand remain on a steady upward trajectory for the remainder of 2026.

The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.

Among others, the following stocks were impacted:

Zooming In On Natera (NTRA)

Natera’s shares are somewhat volatile and have had 13 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The previous big move we wrote about was 21 days ago when the stock dropped 3.8% on the news that major indices including the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average fell sharply as investors reacted to escalating uncertainty tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and policy deadlines set by the Trump administration. 

Markets dislike unpredictability, and these fears were amplified, raising concerns of prolonged conflict and rising oil prices. This negative outlook reflected in consumer confidence, with the University of Michigan's sentiment index sliding to a three-month low.

Natera is down 8.9% since the beginning of the year, and at $208.47 per share, it is trading 18.1% below its 52-week high of $254.40 from January 2026. Despite the year-to-date decline, investors who bought $1,000 worth of Natera’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,987.

ONE MORE THING: The $21 AI Application Stock Wall Street Forgot. While Wall Street obsesses over who’s building AI, one company is already using it to print money. And nobody’s paying attention.

AI chip stocks trade at ridiculous valuations. This company processes a trillion consumer signals monthly using AI and trades at a third of the price. The gap won’t last. The institutions will figure it out. You need to see this first. Read the FREE Report Before They Notice.

This article contains syndicated content. We have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content, and may receive compensation for placement of the content on this site. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

All market data (will open in new tab) is provided by Barchart Solutions. Copyright © 2026.

Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. For exchange delays and terms of use, please read disclaimer (will open in new tab).