Institutional Investors Adjust AstraZeneca Holdings in Q3
Multiple institutional investors modified their positions in AstraZeneca during the third quarter, with new stakes and adjustments reported in SEC filings. The company announced a dividend of $1.595 per share payable March 23rd.
Several institutional investors adjusted their positions in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) during the third quarter, according to recent SEC filings. Cookson Peirce & Co. Inc. bought a new position of 13,666 shares valued at approximately $1.05 million, while Krilogy Financial LLC acquired 9,003 shares valued at approximately $731,000.
Denali Advisors LLC lowered its stake by 35.8% during the third quarter, selling 5,002 shares. The fund owned 8,975 shares of the company's stock after the transaction, with holdings worth $689,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional movements included NewSquare Capital LLC, which grew its stake by 149.3% in the second quarter and now owns 364 shares valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. increased its holdings by 144.0% during the third quarter and now owns 466 shares worth $36,000 after buying an additional 275 shares. FSA Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings by 376.0% in the second quarter and now owns 476 shares valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 376 shares.
Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position by 93.2% during the fourth quarter and now owns 5,782 shares valued at $379,000 after purchasing an additional 2,789 shares. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake by 45.3% during the first quarter and now owns 37,501 shares valued at $2.76 million after purchasing an additional 11,690 shares. CWM LLC lifted its stake by 88.1% during the second quarter and now owns 18,973 shares valued at $1.33 million after purchasing an additional 8,886 shares. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings by 9.0% during the second quarter and now owns 33,778 shares worth $2.36 million after buying an additional 2,780 shares. Mutual Advisors LLC increased its holdings by 25.9% in the second quarter and now owns 13,167 shares valued at $957,000 after buying an additional 2,712 shares.
Rakuten Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in the third quarter valued at $31,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position during the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.
The company announced a dividend of $1.595 per share payable on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid the dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a yield of 165.0%. The dividend payout ratio is currently 34.77% according to one filing and 74.83% according to another.
Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Citigroup began coverage on Tuesday, January 27th and set a "buy" rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Monday, October 27th and set a "buy" rating on the stock. TD Cowen reaffirmed a "buy" rating on Tuesday, December 9th. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b)" rating on Wednesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $103.00 price target on Wednesday, December 3rd. HSBC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $108.00 price objective on Wednesday, December 10th. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on Tuesday, January 6th. Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating on Wednesday, December 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "sell" rating on Friday, February 6th. Wall Street Zen cut AstraZeneca from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating on Saturday, January 17th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating. AstraZeneca currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $95.75.
Shares of AZN opened at $205.47. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $115.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $93.99. AstraZeneca has a 12 month low of $122.48 and a 12 month high of $206.71. The company has a market capitalization of $318.66 billion, a PE ratio of 68.26, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54.
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, England. Formed through the 1999 merger of Sweden's Astra AB and the UK's Zeneca Group, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. AstraZeneca's operations span research and development, large-scale manufacturing, and commercial distribution, with a presence in developed and emerging markets worldwide. The company focuses on several core therapy areas including oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CVRM), respiratory and immunology, and rare diseases.