AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) Given New $82.00 Price Target at BMO Capital Markets

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) had its price objective raised by BMO Capital Markets from $80.00 to $82.00 in a report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on AZN. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an overweight rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered AstraZeneca from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised AstraZeneca from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $81.00.

AstraZeneca Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of AZN stock opened at $75.17 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $67.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $66.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.82. AstraZeneca has a twelve month low of $60.47 and a twelve month high of $75.81. The company has a market capitalization of $233.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.85, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.50.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.74 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $12.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.07 billion. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.30% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The firm’s revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.69 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that AstraZeneca will post 4.01 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 25th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a $0.965 dividend. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a yield of 2.3%. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is currently 94.61%.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Able Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 375.6% in the third quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 428 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 468.4% in the fourth quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 449 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Company 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.