Choate Investment Advisors Grows Holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Choate Investment Advisors increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 69.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,873 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,053 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors' holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $647,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in AZN. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 2,618.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 734 shares of the company's stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AZN has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, AstraZeneca presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $89.75.

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AstraZeneca Stock Up 0.3 %

NASDAQ:AZN traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $76.52. The company had a trading volume of 3,140,584 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,603,557. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market cap of $237.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $72.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.16. AstraZeneca PLC has a twelve month low of $62.75 and a twelve month high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (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 expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This is a boost 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%.

AstraZeneca Profile

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.