AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) Stock Rating Reaffirmed as "Buy" by Berenberg Bank

Key Points

• Berenberg Bank reaffirmed its “Buy” rating on AstraZeneca and maintained a £175 price target, implying 46.15% potential upside from the current price.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall: six analysts rate the stock a Buy and one gives it a Hold, resulting in a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average target price of £153.57.
• AstraZeneca shares opened at £119.74, with a market capitalization of £185.70 billion; insider Michel Demare also purchased 2,500 shares worth approximately £303,025.

AstraZeneca (LON:AZN - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "buy" rating reissued by stock analysts at Berenberg Bank in a research report issued on Wednesday, Digital Look reports. They presently have a £175 price target on the biopharmaceutical company's stock. Berenberg Bank's target price points to a potential upside of 46.15% from the stock's current price.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on AZN. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of AstraZeneca from £175 to £178 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a £145 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "hold" rating and issued a £117 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday, September 29th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a £175 target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of £153.57.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

AZN stock opened at £119.74 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of £185.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.93, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.20. AstraZeneca has a twelve month low of £114.04 and a twelve month high of £157.32. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of £120.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of £132.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.10.

Insider Buying and Selling at AstraZeneca

In related news, insider Michel Demare purchased 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of £121.21 per share, with a total value of £303,025. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

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