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

Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $89.00.

A number of research firms have weighed in on AZN. Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company.

AstraZeneca Trading Down 1.4%

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $73.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $71.86 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.63. AstraZeneca has a 1 year low of $61.24 and a 1 year high of $87.68. The stock has a market cap of $228.13 billion, a PE ratio of 27.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.36.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 14.68% and a return on equity of 32.84%. The company had revenue of $14.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.08 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.24 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that AstraZeneca will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be given a $0.505 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. This represents a dividend yield of 200.0%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 77.44%.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AZN. Financial Gravity Companies Inc. acquired a new position in AstraZeneca during the second quarter worth about $2,065,000. MTM Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in AstraZeneca during the second quarter worth about $59,000. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 4.6% during the second quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 7,381 shares of the company’s stock worth $516,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares during the last quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 3.4% during the second quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,491 shares of the company’s stock worth $873,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new position in AstraZeneca during the second quarter worth about $96,936,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

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.