AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Shares Sold by Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD

Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD cut its position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 4.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 60,351,973 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,540,609 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD owned approximately 1.95% of AstraZeneca worth $3,954,262,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Albion Financial Group UT increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 2,618.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 734 shares of the company's stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 707 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter worth $55,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter worth about $55,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ AZN opened at $67.87 on Wednesday. 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 has a market cap of $210.48 billion, a PE ratio of 30.03, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.49. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $61.24 and a one year high of $87.68. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $72.61 and a 200 day moving average of $70.37.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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 return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. As a group, research analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. This is a boost from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's payout ratio is presently 91.15%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AZN. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating for the company. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $75.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $86.80.

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.

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