James Investment Research Inc. Sells 23,121 Shares of Astrazeneca Plc $AZN

James Investment Research Inc. lowered its position in Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN) by 49.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 24,071 shares of the company’s stock after selling 23,121 shares during the quarter. James Investment Research Inc.’s holdings in Astrazeneca were worth $4,747,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MV Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Astrazeneca during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Reflection Asset Management bought a new stake in shares of Astrazeneca in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Astrazeneca in the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Astrazeneca in the fourth quarter valued at $44,000. Finally, Acumen Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Astrazeneca in the fourth quarter valued at $47,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Astrazeneca Price Performance

AZN stock opened at $183.99 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $285.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.63, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.24. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $183.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $187.58. Astrazeneca Plc has a 12-month low of $137.23 and a 12-month high of $212.71.

Astrazeneca (NYSE:AZN) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The company reported $2.58 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.06. Astrazeneca had a return on equity of 30.86% and a net margin of 17.19%.The firm had revenue of $15.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.93 billion. On average, analysts expect that Astrazeneca Plc will post 10.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Astrazeneca News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Astrazeneca this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AstraZeneca’s cancer drug Enhertu won a new EU approval for HER2-positive solid tumors, its sixth EU indication, which could expand sales potential and support future revenue growth. AstraZeneca’s Enhertu Wins EU Nod for HER2-Positive Solid Tumors (Revised)
• Positive Sentiment: Several major brokers reiterated buy ratings on AZN, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and JPMorgan, signaling continued analyst confidence in the stock. Goldman Sachs Reaffirms Buy Rating
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its FY2026 EPS estimate for AstraZeneca, suggesting expectations for stronger earnings than previously forecast.
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks highlighted AZN as a strong momentum stock and compared it with Illumina, reinforcing that the shares remain on investors’ radar, but without a direct new catalyst. Here’s Why Astrazeneca (AZN) is a Strong Momentum Stock
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the positive company-specific news, AZN still traded lower as broader market weakness and a conflicting sell rating from Deutsche Bank likely weighed on sentiment. Deutsche Bank Sell Rating

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on AZN shares. Weiss Ratings downgraded Astrazeneca from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “sell” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research note on Tuesday. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Monday, June 1st. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $205.33.

Astrazeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca plc is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, England. Formed through the 1999 merger of Sweden’s Astra AB and the UK’s Zeneca Group, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. AstraZeneca positions itself as R&D-driven, investing in discovery science, clinical development and regulatory processes to bring new therapies to market.

The company’s commercial portfolio and late-stage pipeline emphasize oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic (CVRM) diseases, and respiratory and immunology.