WMS Partners LLC Grows Stock Holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

WMS Partners LLC raised its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 8.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,824 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 290 shares during the period. WMS Partners LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $265,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Aspire Private Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter worth approximately $17,491,320,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 4,875.0% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 398 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the period. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Syverson Strege & Co purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. 15.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AZN has been the subject of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of AstraZeneca from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 4th. 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 upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Argus reduced their price objective on shares of AstraZeneca from $85.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. They set a “strong-buy” rating for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $103.00.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

AstraZeneca stock traded down $0.90 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $66.74. 1,183,521 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,853,752. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.67. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $52.65 and a fifty-two week high of $76.56. The company has a market capitalization of $206.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.50. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $68.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $70.94.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 28th. The company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.06 billion. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.86% and a return on equity of 30.39%. On average, equities research analysts expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 3.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th will be issued a $0.465 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.73%.

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 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.