Geode Capital Management LLC Lowers Holdings in Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA)

Geode Capital Management LLC decreased its holdings in Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA - Free Report) by 11.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 782,745 shares of the company's stock after selling 105,992 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 1.71% of Azenta worth $39,149,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of AZTA. Picton Mahoney Asset Management raised its position in shares of Azenta by 305.7% in the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 706 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 532 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its stake in Azenta by 48.5% in the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,137 shares of the company's stock valued at $107,000 after purchasing an additional 698 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new position in Azenta in the fourth quarter worth about $200,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Azenta by 14.9% during the fourth quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,446 shares of the company's stock valued at $225,000 after buying an additional 576 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Azenta by 123.0% in the 4th quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd now owns 4,684 shares of the company's stock valued at $234,000 after buying an additional 2,584 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.08% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AZTA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen upgraded shares of Azenta to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on Azenta from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Azenta in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their target price on Azenta from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an "in-line" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

Azenta Price Performance

Azenta stock traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $25.25. 880,637 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 639,401. The firm's fifty day moving average is $36.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $43.94. The company has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.47 and a beta of 1.66. Azenta, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.68 and a fifty-two week high of $63.58.

Azenta (NASDAQ:AZTA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.03. Azenta had a positive return on equity of 1.25% and a negative net margin of 24.91%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Azenta, Inc. will post 0.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Azenta Company Profile

Azenta, Inc provides biological and chemical compound sample exploration and management solutions for the life sciences market in North America, Africa, China, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates in two reportable segments, Life Sciences Products and Life Sciences Services.