AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Shares Purchased by Empower Advisory Group LLC

Empower Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 37.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,045 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,381 shares during the quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $331,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AZN. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. grew its position in AstraZeneca by 13.8% during the fourth quarter. Pittenger & Anderson Inc. now owns 60,741 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,980,000 after buying an additional 7,364 shares during the period. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at $2,076,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at $31,192,000. Americana Partners LLC grew its position in AstraZeneca by 50.4% during the fourth quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 42,722 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,799,000 after buying an additional 14,309 shares during the period. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

NASDAQ:AZN opened at $73.81 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $68.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $73.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $228.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.46. AstraZeneca PLC has a twelve month low of $62.75 and a twelve month high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The firm 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 is an increase from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 43.36%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Company 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.