Axxcess Wealth Management LLC Buys 3,541 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC $AZN

Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 17.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,530 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,541 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,805,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of AZN. Primecap Management Co. CA boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 41,200,091 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,879,062,000 after buying an additional 538,606 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 21,298,394 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,488,332,000 after purchasing an additional 196,401 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.6% in the 2nd 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 during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 15.2% during the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,167,365 shares of the company’s stock worth $850,255,000 after purchasing an additional 1,605,133 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 2.1% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,046,992 shares of the company’s stock valued at $351,734,000 after purchasing an additional 104,625 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $208.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $323.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 69.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.34. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $122.48 and a one year high of $212.71. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $122.11 and its 200-day moving average is $96.53.

AstraZeneca Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a $1.595 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 153.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is currently 74.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen cut AstraZeneca from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “sell” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, HSBC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $108.00 target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $95.75.

AstraZeneca Profile

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, England. Formed through the 1999 merger of Sweden’s Astra AB and the UK’s Zeneca Group, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. AstraZeneca’s operations span research and development, large-scale manufacturing, and commercial distribution, with a presence in developed and emerging markets worldwide.

The company focuses on several core therapy areas including oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CVRM), respiratory and immunology, and rare diseases.