AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) Rating Increased to Buy at UBS Group

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) was upgraded by UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Stock Up 2.3 %

NASDAQ AZN opened at $74.43 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $67.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $230.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.46. AstraZeneca has a one year low of $60.76 and a one year 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 32.55% and a net margin of 13.01%. Research analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca will post 4.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AZN. Martin Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Martin Investment Management LLC now owns 284,204 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,571,000 after acquiring an additional 7,615 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB purchased a new position in AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter valued at about $754,000. Diversify Wealth Management LLC boosted 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 purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 25.9% in the fourth quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 9,487 shares of the company’s stock valued at $622,000 after purchasing an additional 1,949 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 46.6% during the 3rd quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 43,610 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,398,000 after buying an additional 13,860 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.