Diversify Advisory Services LLC Grows Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 25.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,548 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,121 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,192,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter worth approximately $10,395,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its position in AstraZeneca by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 81,312 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,524,000 after purchasing an additional 1,312 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 26,863 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,809,000 after purchasing an additional 2,549 shares during the last quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 35.5% during the 4th quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,167 shares of the company’s stock worth $348,000 after purchasing an additional 1,354 shares during the period. Finally, Harbor Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 110.9% during the 4th quarter. Harbor Investment Advisory LLC now owns 791 shares of the company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup raised shares of AstraZeneca to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Thursday, May 30th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on AstraZeneca from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, April 26th. Finally, Argus lifted their price objective on AstraZeneca from $80.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $88.00.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN traded down $0.16 during trading on Friday, hitting $81.19. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,078,360 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,345,006. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $60.47 and a fifty-two week high of $82.01. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $79.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.89. The company has a market capitalization of $251.73 billion, a PE ratio of 39.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.45.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $12.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $12.62 billion. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 29.34% and a net margin of 13.11%. AstraZeneca’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 9th. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be issued a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. This represents a yield of 1.8%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.04%.

AstraZeneca 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.