AstraZeneca PLC $AZN Shares Bought by AMG National Trust Bank

AMG National Trust Bank increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 20.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,983 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,289 shares during the period. AMG National Trust Bank’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $3,298,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 173.4% in the 2nd quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 3,745,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $261,764,000 after purchasing an additional 2,376,032 shares during the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in AstraZeneca by 2,389.9% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,043,850 shares of the company’s stock worth $142,798,000 after buying an additional 1,961,764 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 15.2% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,167,365 shares of the company’s stock valued at $850,255,000 after buying an additional 1,605,133 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 64.8% during the 2nd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 3,783,251 shares of the company’s stock valued at $264,373,000 after acquiring an additional 1,487,662 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 2nd quarter worth $96,936,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Trading Down 2.0%

AstraZeneca stock opened at $204.45 on Friday. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $122.48 and a one year high of $212.71. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $124.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.59. 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 company has a market capitalization of $317.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.92, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.34.

AstraZeneca Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of $1.595 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a yield of 156.0%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is presently 74.83%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AZN has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded AstraZeneca from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $103.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. HSBC restated a “buy” rating and set a $108.00 price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “sell” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $95.75.

About AstraZeneca

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.