Edge Capital Group LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Edge Capital Group LLC lowered its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 0.1% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 143,842 shares of the company’s stock after selling 168 shares during the quarter. Edge Capital Group LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $9,425,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 18.1% during the fourth quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 5,804 shares of the company’s stock worth $380,000 after buying an additional 888 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 104.2% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 11,939 shares of the company’s stock valued at $782,000 after acquiring an additional 6,091 shares during the period. MONECO Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 24.4% during the 4th quarter. MONECO Advisors LLC now owns 3,497 shares of the company’s stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 686 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 5,874 shares of the company’s stock worth $385,000 after purchasing an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oxbow Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 1,162.4% during the 4th quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 37,343 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,447,000 after purchasing an additional 34,385 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Trading Down 0.5 %

AstraZeneca stock opened at $74.20 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $68.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $73.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $230.11 billion, a PE ratio of 32.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.46. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12-month low of $62.75 and a 12-month high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $1.03 dividend. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.36%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. UBS Group raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $89.75.

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.