Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC Sells 1,644 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC trimmed its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 9.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,445 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,644 shares during the period. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,012,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Creative Planning lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.0% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 224,751 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,510,000 after buying an additional 16,692 shares during the period. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 1.3% during the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 2,705,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,806,000 after purchasing an additional 35,000 shares during the period. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 13.2% during the third quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,759 shares of the company’s stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 14.7% during the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 2,923 shares of the company’s stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 374 shares during the period. Finally, Paragon Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in AstraZeneca during the third quarter worth about $678,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

AZN stock opened at $74.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.71. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $67.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.49. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $61.06 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $230.88 billion, a PE ratio of 32.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.46.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.55% and a net margin of 13.01%. Analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.66 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $1.03 dividend. This represents a yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This is a boost from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is 43.36%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on AZN. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $89.75.

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.