AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) Hits New 52-Week High at $12,488.00

AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as £124.88 ($154.25) and last traded at £121.42 ($149.98), with a volume of 70283445 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at £119.88 ($148.07).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on AZN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a £105 ($129.69) price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, April 23rd. Shore Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, April 15th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a £110 ($135.87) price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, February 16th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, February 12th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on AstraZeneca from £107 ($132.16) to GBX 9,900 ($122.28) and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of £116.86 ($144.34).

AstraZeneca Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of £187.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3,956.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.19. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of £105.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of £104.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 75.70, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.82.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were given a dividend of GBX 156 ($1.93) per share. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous dividend of $71.80. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a dividend yield of 1.49%. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is 7,524.75%.

About AstraZeneca

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.