AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $88.00.

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AZN shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of AstraZeneca from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Thursday, May 30th. They set a “buy” rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. Barclays upgraded shares of AstraZeneca to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Finally, Argus lifted their target price on shares of AstraZeneca from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 30th.

AstraZeneca Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $76.67 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $237.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.58, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. AstraZeneca has a 12-month low of $60.47 and a 12-month high of $80.86. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $78.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $70.98.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.08. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.30% and a return on equity of 30.42%. The company had revenue of $12.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.92 billion. On average, analysts forecast that AstraZeneca will post 4.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. Anchor Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Able Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 468.4% in the 4th quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 449 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 370 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.