Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 153.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 153,695 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 93,071 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $10,125,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,117,447 shares of the company's stock worth $1,801,080,000 after buying an additional 258,477 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.7% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 19,122,675 shares of the company's stock worth $1,492,649,000 after buying an additional 1,522,715 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 15,430,963 shares of the company's stock worth $1,011,037,000 after buying an additional 466,416 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,480,160 shares of the company's stock valued at $816,509,000 after purchasing an additional 524,175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 17.7% during the 4th quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 3,745,531 shares of the company's stock valued at $245,407,000 after purchasing an additional 564,297 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.
AstraZeneca Trading Up 0.9 %
AZN traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $74.20. The stock had a trading volume of 3,614,684 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,229,301. The stock has a market capitalization of $230.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $68.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $73.30. AstraZeneca PLC has a 52 week low of $62.75 and a 52 week high of $87.68.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. On average, equities analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.
AstraZeneca Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $1.03 dividend. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.15%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
AZN has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group raised AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AstraZeneca has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $89.75.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AstraZeneca
About AstraZeneca
(
Free Report)
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology.
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