AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Stock Holdings Lifted by Harbour Investments Inc.

Harbour Investments Inc. increased its stake in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 12.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,926 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,121 shares during the period. Harbour Investments Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $650,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Swedbank AB grew its position 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 buying an additional 35,000 shares in the last quarter. Claro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca in the third quarter worth about $233,000. Pathstone Holdings LLC grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 347,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,053,000 after acquiring an additional 11,703 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter valued at about $415,000. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 238,228 shares of the company’s stock valued at $18,560,000 after buying an additional 4,580 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ AZN opened at $76.32 on Thursday. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12 month low of $62.75 and a 12 month high of $87.68. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $72.47 and a 200-day moving average of $72.16. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market capitalization of $236.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS 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%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a yield of 2%. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is 91.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley started coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. One equities 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 data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $89.75.

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.