AstraZeneca PLC $AZN Shares Sold by Northstar Group Inc.

Northstar Group Inc. decreased its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,880 shares of the company’s stock after selling 184 shares during the quarter. Northstar Group Inc.’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $341,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 297.9% during the 1st quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 386 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 289 shares during the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Costello Asset Management INC purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in AstraZeneca by 447.4% in the 1st quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 416 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 340 shares during the period. Finally, Maseco LLP purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca in the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Stock Up 10.0%

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN opened at $84.36 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $261.63 billion, a PE ratio of 31.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.36. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $77.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $73.00. AstraZeneca PLC has a 1 year low of $61.24 and a 1 year high of $84.61.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.09. The company had revenue of $14.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.08 billion. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 14.68% and a return on equity of 32.84%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.24 earnings per share. Analysts predict that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th were paid a dividend of $0.505 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 8th. This represents a yield of 200.0%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio is 37.97%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $86.00.

AstraZeneca 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.