Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 4.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 146,769 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 6,853 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.'s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $9,616,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the fourth 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 last quarter. Groupama Asset Managment lifted its position in AstraZeneca by 22.9% during the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 543,398 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 101,225 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in AstraZeneca by 2,618.5% during the 4th 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 last quarter. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at about $55,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $89.75.
Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on AZN
AstraZeneca Stock Performance
Shares of AZN stock traded down $1.59 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $74.93. The stock had a trading volume of 5,172,673 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,940,222. The firm has a market cap of $232.37 billion, a PE ratio of 33.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $62.75 and a one year high of $87.68. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $72.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.19.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. On average, analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.
AstraZeneca Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a yield of 2%. This is a boost from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca's payout ratio is presently 91.15%.
AstraZeneca Profile
(
Free Report)
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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