Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. Acquires 6,970 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 16.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 50,035 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,970 shares during the period. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $3,278,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Swedbank AB lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the third quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 2,705,757 shares of the company’s stock worth $210,806,000 after acquiring an additional 35,000 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in AstraZeneca by 268.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 60,624 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,723,000 after purchasing an additional 44,189 shares during the last quarter. Eastern Bank bought a new position in AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $62,000. Waldron Private Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 8.9% in the 3rd quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,838 shares of the company’s stock worth $299,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 7,331.5% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 283,661 shares of the company’s stock valued at $221,000,000 after purchasing an additional 279,844 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

NASDAQ AZN opened at $74.56 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $68.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $73.30. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12-month low of $62.75 and a 12-month high of $87.68. The company has a market cap of $231.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.99, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.46.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Sell-side analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

AZN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating for the company. UBS Group raised AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target 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.