American Trust Has $358,000 Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

American Trust lowered its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 9.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,160 shares of the company’s stock after selling 535 shares during the period. American Trust’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $358,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 4,875.0% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 398 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Syverson Strege & Co acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.68% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN opened at $68.27 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.50. AstraZeneca PLC has a 1-year low of $52.65 and a 1-year high of $76.56. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $68.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $71.07.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $11.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $11.06 billion. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 30.39% and a net margin of 13.86%. Equities analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a $0.465 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.73%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on AZN shares. Erste Group Bank reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Argus reduced their price target on shares of AstraZeneca from $85.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They set a “strong-buy” rating on the stock. Finally, HSBC started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $103.00.

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 Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Andexxa/Ondexxya, Atacand, Atacand HCT, Atacand Plus, Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, Xigduo/Xigduo, and Zestril XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon, Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Bricanyl Respules and Turbuhaler, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Rhinocort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tezspire for respiratory and immunology; and Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases.