Principal Securities Inc. Has $1.83 Million Holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 9.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,911 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,490 shares during the quarter. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $1,829,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Creative Planning grew its stake in AstraZeneca by 8.0% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 224,751 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,510,000 after buying an additional 16,692 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 2,705,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,806,000 after acquiring an additional 35,000 shares in the last quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in AstraZeneca by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,699 shares of the company’s stock worth $522,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 49.4% during the 3rd quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 12,347 shares of the company’s stock valued at $962,000 after purchasing an additional 4,081 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 268.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 60,624 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,723,000 after purchasing an additional 44,189 shares in the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on AZN. Morgan Stanley began coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Trading Up 1.7 %

Shares of AZN opened at $74.80 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $68.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $231.95 billion, a PE ratio of 33.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.46. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12-month low of $62.75 and a 12-month high of $87.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.55%. As a group, research analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.66 earnings per share for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This is a boost from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a yield of 2%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 43.36%.

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.