Kranot Hishtalmut Le Morim Tichoniim Havera Menahelet LTD purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 52,380 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,429,000.
A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Albion Financial Group UT increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% during the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 248 shares during the period. Groupama Asset Managment grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 22.9% during the third quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 543,398 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 101,225 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the third quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings 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 in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company's stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports 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 assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $89.75.
Read Our Latest Report on AZN
AstraZeneca Stock Down 2.3 %
Shares of NASDAQ AZN opened at $74.24 on Wednesday. The firm's 50-day moving average is $71.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The company has a market capitalization of $230.23 billion, a PE ratio of 32.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12-month low of $62.75 and a 12-month high of $87.68.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (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%. Equities analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.
AstraZeneca Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued 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 is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio is 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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