AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Shares Purchased by Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.

Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 41.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,275 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 7,465 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.'s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,656,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Diversify Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,402 shares of the company's stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Veery Capital LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Veery Capital LLC now owns 3,503 shares of the company's stock worth $230,000 after purchasing an additional 157 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 10,027 shares of the company's stock worth $788,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Hardy Reed LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Hardy Reed LLC now owns 3,182 shares of the company's stock worth $248,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 35,300 shares of the company's stock worth $2,313,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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AstraZeneca Stock Down 2.1 %

NASDAQ:AZN traded down $1.59 on Friday, reaching $74.93. The stock had a trading volume of 5,172,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,941,375. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a 50-day moving average of $72.83 and a 200 day moving average of $72.00. The stock has a market cap of $232.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12-month low of $62.75 and a 12-month high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share 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, research analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share 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 dividend of $1.03 per share. This is a boost from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AZN has been the subject of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating for the company. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. One equities research 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 MarketBeat, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.75.

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.