AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN – Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Traders purchased 15,755 put options on the company. This represents an increase of 42% compared to the typical daily volume of 11,119 put options.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AZN. Diversified Trust Co increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 4,463 shares of the company’s stock valued at $319,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. First Affirmative Financial Network grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 2.9% during the third quarter. First Affirmative Financial Network now owns 5,495 shares of the company’s stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the period. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA raised its position in AstraZeneca by 4.2% in the second quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA now owns 3,867 shares of the company’s stock worth $277,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Wrapmanager Inc. lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Wrapmanager Inc. now owns 3,962 shares of the company’s stock valued at $284,000 after acquiring an additional 157 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 5,331 shares of the company’s stock valued at $359,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.68% of the company’s stock.
AstraZeneca Stock Performance
AZN stock traded up $0.63 during trading on Thursday, reaching $68.95. 2,745,138 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,178,451. AstraZeneca has a 1-year low of $61.73 and a 1-year high of $76.56. The firm has a market cap of $213.73 billion, a PE ratio of 35.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.49. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $64.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $67.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 8th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $11.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.55 billion. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.10% and a return on equity of 30.30%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.84 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that AstraZeneca will post 3.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities analysts have issued reports on AZN shares. Erste Group Bank reissued a “hold” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, September 8th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a research report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a “strong-buy” rating for the company. HSBC started coverage on AstraZeneca in a research report on Monday, December 18th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $103.00.
AstraZeneca Company Profile
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, andcommercialization 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.