F M Investments LLC Has $1.45 Million Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

F M Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 26.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 22,082 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,616 shares during the period. F M Investments LLC's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,447,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 0.3% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 493,447 shares of the company's stock worth $38,444,000 after acquiring an additional 1,269 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank grew its stake in AstraZeneca by 15.5% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 17,929 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,397,000 after purchasing an additional 2,408 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Resource Group acquired a new position in AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter worth about $946,000. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth about $4,822,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 231.3% during the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 1,279 shares of the company's stock valued at $100,000 after buying an additional 893 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

AstraZeneca stock traded up $0.65 on Thursday, reaching $67.70. 1,990,940 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,216,877. The stock has a market cap of $209.96 billion, a PE ratio of 29.95, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.49. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $73.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $70.72. AstraZeneca PLC has a twelve month low of $61.24 and a twelve month high of $87.68. 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 (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AZN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $75.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating for the company. Finally, 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, eight have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $86.80.

About AstraZeneca

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.