AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) Upgraded to Hold by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, MarketBeat.com reports.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on AZN. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a £110 ($136.94) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Thursday, April 4th. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Monday. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on AstraZeneca from £107 ($133.20) to GBX 9,900 ($123.24) and set a sell rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of £115.43 ($143.69).

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at £109.14 ($135.86) on Monday. The firm has a market cap of £169.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3,601.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.19. The stock’s 50-day moving average is £103.71 and its 200-day moving average is £104.29. AstraZeneca has a one year low of GBX 9,461 ($117.78) and a one year high of £123.48 ($153.72). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 75.70, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were given a GBX 156 ($1.94) dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This is an increase from AstraZeneca’s previous dividend of $71.80. This represents a yield of 1.49%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 7,524.75%.

About AstraZeneca

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.