AstraZeneca PLC $AZN Shares Sold by Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 85.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 250,227 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,493,854 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $18,392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Confluence Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 297.9% during the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 386 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Costello Asset Management INC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $86.00.

AstraZeneca Stock Up 0.6%

AZN opened at $80.97 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $72.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $251.12 billion, a PE ratio of 30.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.36. AstraZeneca PLC has a 52 week low of $61.24 and a 52 week high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted 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 firm had revenue of $14.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.08 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.24 EPS. AstraZeneca’s quarterly revenue was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

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

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.