Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 57.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,323 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 5,248 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $939,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FMR LLC raised its stake in AstraZeneca by 1.1% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,117,447 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,801,080,000 after purchasing an additional 258,477 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.7% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 19,122,675 shares of the company's stock worth $1,492,649,000 after purchasing an additional 1,522,715 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 15,430,963 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,011,037,000 after purchasing an additional 466,416 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 4.6% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,959,852 shares of the company's stock worth $718,090,000 after purchasing an additional 479,692 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 17.7% during the fourth quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC now owns 3,745,531 shares of the company's stock valued at $245,407,000 after acquiring an additional 564,297 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
AstraZeneca Price Performance
Shares of NASDAQ:AZN traded up $0.71 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $77.96. 4,909,487 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,656,809. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $72.84. AstraZeneca PLC has a 1 year low of $62.75 and a 1 year high of $87.68. The company has a market cap of $241.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.50, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93.
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 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 predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.
AstraZeneca Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a $1.03 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. This is an increase from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's payout ratio is 91.15%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group raised AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $89.75.
Get Our Latest Research Report on AZN
AstraZeneca Company 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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