Capital World Investors Sells 6,111,652 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Capital World Investors lowered its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 97.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 143,030 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,111,652 shares during the quarter. Capital World Investors' holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $9,378,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted 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 worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 707 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter valued at $55,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter worth $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

AstraZeneca Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of AZN traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $69.57. The stock had a trading volume of 6,662,575 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,223,437. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.30. The firm has a market cap of $215.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $61.24 and a fifty-two week 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 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, equities analysts forecast 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 was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were 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 was Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AZN has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group raised AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $75.00 target price on the stock. Finally, 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 analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $86.80.

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.