AstraZeneca PLC $AZN Shares Sold by Becker Capital Management Inc.

Becker Capital Management Inc. cut its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 373,347 shares of the company’s stock after selling 7,770 shares during the period. Becker Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $26,089,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AZN. Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 173.4% in the second quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 3,745,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $261,764,000 after purchasing an additional 2,376,032 shares in the last quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 14,797.3% in the second quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,322,638 shares of the company’s stock worth $162,306,000 after purchasing an additional 2,307,047 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its position in AstraZeneca by 2,389.9% in the 2nd quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 2,043,850 shares of the company’s stock valued at $142,798,000 after buying an additional 1,961,764 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 406.9% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,020,629 shares of the company’s stock valued at $148,517,000 after buying an additional 1,621,974 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 15.2% during the 2nd quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,167,365 shares of the company’s stock worth $850,255,000 after buying an additional 1,605,133 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

NASDAQ AZN opened at $91.51 on Thursday. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $61.24 and a fifty-two week high of $94.01. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $86.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.89. The firm has a market cap of $283.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.69.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.05. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.89% and a net margin of 16.17%.The business had revenue of $15.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.75 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.08 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, HSBC restated a “buy” rating and set a $108.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $95.75.

AstraZeneca 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.