Brokers Offer Predictions for AstraZeneca FY2026 Earnings

Key Points

• Erste Group raised its FY2026 EPS forecast to $10.48 (from $10.34) and expects FY2027 EPS of $11.50, while the consensus for the current full year is $4.51 per share.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive with 9 Buy and 1 Sell rating, an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $95.75.
• AstraZeneca declared a $1.595 dividend payable March 23 to holders of record February 20 (ex-dividend February 20), with the report citing a yield of 156.0% and a dividend payout ratio of 66.26%.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Erste Group Bank upped their FY2026 earnings estimates for AstraZeneca in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, March 4th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now forecasts that the company will earn $10.48 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $10.34. The consensus estimate for AstraZeneca's current full-year earnings is $4.51 per share. Erste Group Bank also issued estimates for AstraZeneca's FY2027 earnings at $11.50 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "sell" rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $103.00 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of AstraZeneca from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, January 17th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $95.75.

AstraZeneca Stock Down 1.6%

AstraZeneca stock opened at $194.44 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $301.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 64.60, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.88. AstraZeneca has a fifty-two week low of $122.48 and a fifty-two week high of $212.71. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $146.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $106.62.

AstraZeneca Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a $1.595 dividend. This represents a yield of 156.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.26%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AstraZeneca

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Primecap Management Co. CA boosted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 41,200,091 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,879,062,000 after acquiring an additional 538,606 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in AstraZeneca by 4.7% during the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 32,633,139 shares of the company's stock worth $2,503,614,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461,786 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in AstraZeneca by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 21,601,433 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,791,051,000 after purchasing an additional 438,709 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in AstraZeneca by 0.9% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 21,298,394 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,488,332,000 after purchasing an additional 196,401 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 13,878,726 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,435,716,000 after purchasing an additional 432,939 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 20.35% of the company's stock.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led 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's operations span research and development, large-scale manufacturing, and commercial distribution, with a presence in developed and emerging markets worldwide.

The company focuses on several core therapy areas including oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism (CVRM), respiratory and immunology, and rare diseases.

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