Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Purchases 10,653 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. raised its position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 11.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 102,631 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 10,653 shares during the quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $6,724,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the third quarter worth about $45,000. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 38.4% in the third quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 692 shares of the company’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 2,618.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 734 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 707 shares during the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN opened at $76.21 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $236.34 billion, a PE ratio of 33.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.46. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $69.75 and its 200-day moving average is $73.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 0.93. AstraZeneca PLC has a 52 week low of $62.75 and a 52 week high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. Sell-side analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. This is an increase from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AZN has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently 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.