AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and ten have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $95.75.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on AZN. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. HSBC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “sell” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, October 27th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

NASDAQ AZN opened at $184.64 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $96.05 and its 200-day moving average is $86.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company has a market capitalization of $572.73 billion, a PE ratio of 61.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.34. AstraZeneca has a 12-month low of $61.24 and a 12-month high of $192.79.

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

Key Stories Impacting AstraZeneca

Here are the key news stories impacting AstraZeneca this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Deal strengthens obesity pipeline — AstraZeneca struck an eight-program deal with China’s CSPC for a once‑monthly injectable weight-management program, which could accelerate its obesity franchise and long-term growth prospects. AZN Obesity Pipeline to Get a Boost From Deal With China’s CSPC
• Positive Sentiment: High-profile endorsement — CNBC’s Jim Cramer publicly said he likes AstraZeneca, which can provide short-term sentiment support among retail investors. Jim Cramer says “I like AstraZeneca very much”
• Positive Sentiment: NYSE listing / harmonized U.S. trading — AstraZeneca began direct trading on the NYSE (ending the ADS program), simplifying U.S. ownership and potentially boosting liquidity and investor access. AstraZeneca begins trading directly on the NYSE
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings cadence — The company is expected to report results soon; investors will focus on revenue growth and guidance for clarity on near-term momentum. AstraZeneca (AZN) Expected to Announce Earnings on Tuesday
• Neutral Sentiment: Short‑interest data appears unreliable — recent reports show zero shares/NaN changes and a 0.0 days-to-cover metric, indicating a data glitch rather than actionable market pressure.
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary explaining the pullback — Coverage notes AstraZeneca fell more than the broader market today, providing context for the move. Why Astrazeneca (AZN) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today
• Negative Sentiment: FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) on Saphnelo’s BLA — the CRL is a material regulatory setback that delays potential U.S. approval and near-term revenue from this asset. FDA issues CRL on AstraZeneca’s Saphnelo BLA
• Negative Sentiment: Initial U.S. application for a lupus injection was turned down — AstraZeneca is working with the FDA and plans an updated submission, but this prolongs the approval timeline and creates near-term uncertainty for the program. AstraZeneca’s Initial Application for Lupus Injection Turned Down by FDA

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AstraZeneca

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AZN. NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 149.3% during the 2nd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 364 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Richardson Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 59.8% during the second quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 398 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. Bangor Savings Bank boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 102.7% during the fourth quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 304 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the period. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

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.