Citizens National Bank Trust Department Raises Position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Citizens National Bank Trust Department boosted its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 2.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,260 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 595 shares during the quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,721,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 268.9% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 60,624 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,723,000 after purchasing an additional 44,189 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 22,762 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,773,000 after purchasing an additional 1,068 shares in the last quarter. Eastern Bank purchased a new position in AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $62,000. Finally, Waldron Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in AstraZeneca by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,838 shares of the company’s stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 1.3 %

AstraZeneca stock opened at $73.81 on Thursday. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $62.75 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $68.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $73.29. The company has a market capitalization of $228.89 billion, a PE ratio of 32.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.46.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its earnings results 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 net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Research analysts expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

AZN has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price 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.