AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Stock Position Lowered by Samjo Management LLC

Samjo Management LLC lowered its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 54,655 shares of the company’s stock after selling 500 shares during the period. AstraZeneca accounts for 1.4% of Samjo Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Samjo Management LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $3,581,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Centiva Capital LP acquired a new position in AstraZeneca in the third quarter worth approximately $588,000. IHT Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 16.9% in the 3rd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,310 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,273,000 after acquiring an additional 2,363 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 17.1% during the third quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 140,596 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,954,000 after purchasing an additional 20,503 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 6.6% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 1,348,904 shares of the company’s stock valued at $105,093,000 after purchasing an additional 83,486 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Soros Fund Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. Soros Fund Management LLC now owns 2,652,771 shares of the company’s stock valued at $206,677,000 after purchasing an additional 201,233 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on AZN shares. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN opened at $68.46 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $212.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.49. AstraZeneca PLC has a 1 year low of $62.75 and a 1 year high of $87.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $71.48.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date was 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 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.