MML Investors Services LLC Grows Stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

MML Investors Services LLC raised its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 255,605 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,933 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $19,914,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in AstraZeneca by 320.8% during the 3rd quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 324 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 247 shares during the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 168.0% in the second quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 536 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AZN has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on AstraZeneca from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of AstraZeneca from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

AZN stock traded down $1.40 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $67.18. 3,531,131 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,308,330. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The company has a market capitalization of $208.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.81, a P/E/G ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.45. AstraZeneca PLC has a twelve month low of $60.47 and a twelve month high of $87.68. The company has a 50-day moving average of $71.09 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.01.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.01 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $13.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.08 billion. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 30.01% and a net margin of 12.68%. AstraZeneca's quarterly revenue was up 18.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.87 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca 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.