Personal CFO Solutions LLC increased its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN – Free Report) by 9.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,830 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,425 shares during the quarter. Personal CFO Solutions LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,168,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 4,875.0% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 398 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the period. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Red Tortoise LLC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Syverson Strege & Co purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 16.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of brokerages recently weighed in on AZN. HSBC started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Friday, July 14th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a “strong-buy” rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $103.00.
AstraZeneca Trading Up 1.1 %
NASDAQ:AZN traded up $0.80 on Wednesday, hitting $71.28. 4,323,043 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,978,009. AstraZeneca PLC has a 52 week low of $52.65 and a 52 week high of $76.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $220.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.49. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $70.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $70.36.
AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be paid a $0.465 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. This represents a yield of 2%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.73%.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company’s marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Andexxa/Ondexxya, Atacand, Atacand HCT, Atacand Plus, Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, Xigduo/Xigduo, and Zestril XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon, Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Bricanyl Respules and Turbuhaler, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Rhinocort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tezspire for respiratory and immunology; and Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases.