AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the nine brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is £101.62 ($131.94).

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of AstraZeneca from GBX 71 ($0.92) to GBX 74 ($0.96) and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a £110 ($142.82) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shore Capital reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a £150 ($194.75) price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday, September 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Monday, September 16th.

Insider Activity at AstraZeneca

In related news, insider Michel Demare acquired 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 118 ($1.53) per share, with a total value of £2,360 ($3,064.14). 0.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of LON AZN opened at £118.38 ($153.70) on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of £123.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of £121.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 84.97, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.59. AstraZeneca has a 1 year low of GBX 9,461 ($122.84) and a 1 year high of £133.88 ($173.82). The firm has a market cap of £183.49 billion, a PE ratio of 3,787.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.17.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 8th were given a dividend of GBX 77.60 ($1.01) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 8th. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 7,428.57%.

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.