BNP Paribas Financial Markets Sells 54,821 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets reduced its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 515,985 shares of the company's stock after selling 54,821 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $40,200,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in AstraZeneca by 320.8% during the 3rd quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 324 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 247 shares during the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of AstraZeneca during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Hobbs Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock traded up $0.42 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $67.62. 2,586,327 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,314,258. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $72.48 and its 200-day moving average price is $77.50. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12 month low of $60.47 and a 12 month high of $87.68. The stock has a market cap of $209.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.15, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.93.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 12.68% and a return on equity of 30.01%. The company had revenue of $13.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.08 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.87 EPS. AstraZeneca's revenue was up 18.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on AZN. TD Cowen increased their target price on AstraZeneca from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Erste Group Bank upgraded AstraZeneca from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Company 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.