Private Advisor Group LLC Increases Stake in AstraZeneca PLC $AZN

Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 102,490 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,646 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $7,863,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the third quarter worth $31,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in AstraZeneca by 376.0% in the second quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC now owns 476 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the last quarter. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the second quarter valued at about $33,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 144.0% in the 3rd quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 466 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abound Wealth Management grew its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 1,767.9% in the 3rd quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 523 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 495 shares during the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $103.00 price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, HSBC restated a “buy” rating and set a $108.00 target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $95.75.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

NASDAQ:AZN opened at $193.09 on Thursday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $152.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.82. The firm has a market cap of $299.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 64.15, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.88. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $122.48 and a one year high of $212.71.

AstraZeneca Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $1.595 per share. This represents a yield of 156.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.26%.

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.