SVB Wealth LLC Invests $784,000 in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 11,971 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $784,000.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. Swedbank AB grew its stake 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. Focus Financial Network Inc. raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 5,295 shares of the company’s stock valued at $412,000 after buying an additional 441 shares in the last quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Gladstone Institutional Advisory LLC now owns 2,893 shares of the company’s stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 286,851 shares of the company’s stock worth $22,349,000 after acquiring an additional 2,369 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 17.7% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 444,792 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,227,000 after acquiring an additional 67,002 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

AstraZeneca Trading Down 0.1 %

NASDAQ AZN opened at $76.10 on Tuesday. AstraZeneca PLC has a twelve month low of $62.75 and a twelve month high of $87.68. The business’s fifty day moving average is $69.94 and its 200 day moving average is $72.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $236.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.46.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 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 32.23%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

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

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.