Corient Private Wealth LLC Purchases 8,894 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Corient Private Wealth LLC boosted its stake in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 4.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 197,257 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,894 shares during the quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $12,642,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 146,769 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,616,000 after purchasing an additional 6,853 shares during the last quarter. Choate Investment Advisors increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 69.6% in the fourth quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 9,873 shares of the company’s stock valued at $647,000 after purchasing an additional 4,053 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 5.1% in the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 2,060,198 shares of the company’s stock valued at $134,984,000 after purchasing an additional 99,383 shares during the last quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 30.7% in the fourth quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 12,748 shares of the company’s stock valued at $835,000 after purchasing an additional 2,992 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Trust LLC increased its holdings in AstraZeneca by 763.2% in the fourth quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 4,411 shares of the company’s stock valued at $289,000 after purchasing an additional 3,900 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 1.0 %

AZN stock opened at $76.32 on Thursday. 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 $236.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41. The business has a 50-day moving average of $72.47 and a 200-day moving average of $72.16. AstraZeneca PLC has a fifty-two week low of $62.75 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This is a boost from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is currently 91.15%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have issued reports on AZN. Morgan Stanley began coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. UBS Group raised AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. One investment 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus 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.