Zacks Research Predicts Increased Earnings for AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research raised their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for AstraZeneca in a report released on Wednesday, August 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $4.52 for the year, up from their prior estimate of $4.50. The consensus estimate for AstraZeneca’s current full-year earnings is $4.51 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AstraZeneca’s Q4 2025 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.16 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.37 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $5.62 EPS.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09. The firm had revenue of $14.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.08 billion. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.84% and a net margin of 14.68%. AstraZeneca’s revenue was up 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.24 earnings per share.

Separately, Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 target price on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $86.00.

AstraZeneca Trading Up 0.9%

NASDAQ:AZN opened at $79.17 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $245.54 billion, a PE ratio of 29.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.36. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $72.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.91. AstraZeneca has a 12-month low of $61.24 and a 12-month high of $87.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.3% during the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 41,200,091 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,879,062,000 after purchasing an additional 538,606 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 37,507,159 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,457,706,000 after purchasing an additional 686,008 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 189.3% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 24,026,966 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,574,247,000 after purchasing an additional 15,722,197 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 0.9% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 21,298,394 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,488,332,000 after purchasing an additional 196,401 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.6% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 20,695,979 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,446,235,000 after purchasing an additional 530,520 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be paid a $0.505 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. This represents a yield of 200.0%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.97%.

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.