Truist Financial Corp Sells 12,517 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Truist Financial Corp trimmed its stake in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 4.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 243,923 shares of the company's stock after selling 12,517 shares during the period. Truist Financial Corp's holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $15,982,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Crumly & Associates Inc. lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.2% during the third quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. now owns 6,644 shares of the company's stock worth $518,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in 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 buying an additional 153 shares during the period. Veery Capital LLC lifted its holdings in 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 buying an additional 157 shares during the period. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 1.9% in the third quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 8,805 shares of the company's stock valued at $686,000 after buying an additional 160 shares during the period. Finally, Smith Salley Wealth Management lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 1.0% in the third quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management now owns 16,158 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,259,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AstraZeneca Trading Up 1.0 %

NASDAQ:AZN traded up $0.76 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $74.29. The stock had a trading volume of 2,326,890 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,190,886. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $62.75 and a one year high of $87.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $230.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.46. The business's 50 day moving average is $68.60 and its 200-day moving average is $73.30.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last issued its 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 net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. 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. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio is currently 91.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AZN has been the topic of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.75.

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.