Trillium Asset Management LLC Has $43.81 Million Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Trillium Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 4.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 668,691 shares of the company's stock after selling 33,232 shares during the period. AstraZeneca accounts for approximately 1.1% of Trillium Asset Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Trillium Asset Management LLC's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $43,813,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cibc World Markets Corp increased its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp now owns 12,901 shares of the company's stock valued at $845,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,402 shares of the company's stock valued at $295,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Veery Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 4.7% in the fourth quarter. Veery Capital LLC now owns 3,503 shares of the company's stock valued at $230,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares in the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.8% in the third quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 10,027 shares of the company's stock valued at $788,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hardy Reed LLC grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 5.9% in the third quarter. Hardy Reed LLC now owns 3,182 shares of the company's stock valued at $248,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on AZN. UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

AZN traded down $1.59 on Friday, hitting $74.93. 5,172,806 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,941,375. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12 month low of $62.75 and a 12 month high of $87.68. The business has a 50-day moving average of $72.83 and a two-hundred day moving average of $72.00. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $232.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.16, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share 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%. Sell-side analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

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

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.