AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twelve ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $89.75.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Erste Group Bank raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of AstraZeneca from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AstraZeneca

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.7% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 19,122,675 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,492,649,000 after buying an additional 1,522,715 shares during the period. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 18.3% during the third quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 149,605 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,655,000 after purchasing an additional 23,159 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 6,649 shares of the company’s stock valued at $518,000 after buying an additional 362 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the third quarter worth about $5,582,000. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in AstraZeneca by 115.5% during the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,267 shares of the company’s stock worth $644,000 after buying an additional 4,430 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

NASDAQ AZN opened at $68.20 on Monday. AstraZeneca has a fifty-two week low of $60.47 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $71.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $77.17. The firm has a market cap of $211.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 30.01% and a net margin of 12.68%. The firm had revenue of $13.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $13.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.87 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 18.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.