Chesley Taft & Associates LLC Boosts Holdings in Astrazeneca Plc $AZN

Chesley Taft & Associates LLC lifted its stake in shares of Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN) by 20.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 152,750 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 25,985 shares during the quarter. Chesley Taft & Associates LLC’s holdings in Astrazeneca were worth $14,042,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. Triumph Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Astrazeneca during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Rakuten Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Astrazeneca in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Astrazeneca during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Astrazeneca by 144.0% during the third quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 466 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Abound Wealth Management grew its stake in Astrazeneca by 1,767.9% in the third quarter. Abound Wealth Management now owns 523 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 495 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Astrazeneca News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Astrazeneca this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Late‑stage trial win — Tozorakimab met primary goals in two pivotal trials, reducing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease flare‑ups versus placebo; the surprise positive readout is driving optimism about near‑term commercialization potential and pipeline momentum. AstraZeneca stock jumps 4% after surprise trial win for lung disease drug where rivals have failed
• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory and commercial implications — Reuters and other outlets highlight the meaningful reduction in flare‑ups and the significance of a successful phase III outcome for a disease area where competitors have struggled, which increases the drug’s value on AstraZeneca’s roadmap. AstraZeneca drug reduces COPD flare ups in late-stage trials
• Positive Sentiment: Clinical confirmation across endpoints — The Wall Street Journal and other reports emphasize that the trials hit their primary endpoints by lowering symptom worsening rates, reinforcing confidence in the data’s robustness and the potential for label and payer discussions. AstraZeneca Lung Disease Drug Candidate Hits Goals in Late-Stage Trials
• Neutral Sentiment: Stock movement vs. market — Coverage notes AZN advanced while broader markets were down, indicating the move is company‑specific (trial news/pipeline) rather than market driven. Astrazeneca (AZN) Advances While Market Declines: Some Information for Investors
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst positioning — AstraZeneca has a consensus analyst rating of “Moderate Buy,” which supports the stock’s upside but does not by itself explain today’s move; analyst views may follow as investigators and investors digest full data and commercial assumptions. Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Astrazeneca Price Performance

Astrazeneca stock opened at $188.57 on Friday. Astrazeneca Plc has a 12 month low of $122.48 and a 12 month high of $212.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $292.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Astrazeneca Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th were issued a $1.595 dividend. This represents a yield of 156.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 20th. Astrazeneca’s payout ratio is presently 66.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on AZN. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. HSBC reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 price target on shares of Astrazeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $103.00 price objective on shares of Astrazeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings started coverage on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. They issued a “buy (b)” rating on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Astrazeneca currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $95.75.

Astrazeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca plc is a global 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 positions itself as R&D-driven, investing in discovery science, clinical development and regulatory processes to bring new therapies to market.

The company’s commercial portfolio and late-stage pipeline emphasize oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic (CVRM) diseases, and respiratory and immunology.