WealthPlan Investment Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

WealthPlan Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 88,424 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 4,026 shares during the period. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $5,794,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 320.8% during the third quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 324 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Groupama Asset Managment increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 22.9% during the third quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 543,398 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 101,225 shares during the period. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in AstraZeneca in the third quarter worth about $45,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. One research 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, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 1.2 %

AZN stock opened at $73.58 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $228.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.46. 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 PLC has a 1-year low of $61.77 and a 1-year high of $87.68. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $68.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.46.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (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 32.55%. Equities analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.66 earnings per share 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $1.03 dividend. This represents a yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This is an increase from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is 43.36%.

AstraZeneca 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.