AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) Share Price Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average - What's Next?

Key Points

• AstraZeneca shares passed above their 200‑day moving average, trading as high as £140.80 (200‑day MA £134.71) and last at £140.76 on heavy volume of ~214.15 million shares.
• Analysts are mostly bullish with five Buy ratings and one Sell, an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of £145.83; notable calls include Citigroup initiating coverage with a £170 target and Berenberg boosting its target to £160.
• Key valuation and financial metrics: market cap £218.28bn, P/E 21.52, PEG 0.86, beta 0.23, debt/equity 60.87 and liquidity ratios below 1 (quick ratio 0.59, current ratio 0.94).

AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN - Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of £134.71 and traded as high as £140.80. AstraZeneca shares last traded at £140.76, with a volume of 214,151,109 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on AZN shares. Citigroup began coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. They set a "buy" rating and a £170 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on AstraZeneca from £105 to £110 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Shore Capital Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of AstraZeneca from £145 to £160 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of £145.83.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of £143.94 and a 200 day simple moving average of £134.71. The stock has a market capitalization of £218.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.52, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.87, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.94.

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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