Astrazeneca Plc $AZN Stock: Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. Cuts Position

Key Points

• Montrusco Bolton Investments cut its AstraZeneca position by 19.3% in the third quarter, selling 42,009 shares and retaining 176,054 shares valued at approximately $28.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 20.35% of the company.
• AstraZeneca shares fell 1.5% to $155.93, near the lower end of their 52-week range. The company’s latest earnings beat estimates, reporting $2.63 in EPS versus the $2.50 consensus, while revenue increased 6.4% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $206.67 price target. Investors are also watching efzimfotase alfa, which Citi estimates could generate peak sales of roughly $4.4 billion if broadly approved.

Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc. lessened its position in Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN - Free Report) by 19.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 176,054 shares of the company's stock after selling 42,009 shares during the quarter. Montrusco Bolton Investments Inc.'s holdings in Astrazeneca were worth $28,720,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Madson Wealth Advisors Inc grew its holdings in shares of Astrazeneca by 3.9% in the third quarter. Madson Wealth Advisors Inc now owns 3,344 shares of the company's stock valued at $540,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Astrazeneca by 37.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sax Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,036 shares of the company's stock worth $329,000 after buying an additional 556 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC lifted its holdings in Astrazeneca by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 4,020 shares of the company's stock worth $638,000 after buying an additional 276 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Astrazeneca during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $321,000. Finally, Vertrix Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Astrazeneca by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vertrix Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,945 shares of the company's stock worth $637,000 after buying an additional 611 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

Astrazeneca Stock Down 1.5%

Astrazeneca stock traded down $2.40 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $155.93. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,112,378 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,800,521. The company has a market cap of $241.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $161.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $176.75. Astrazeneca Plc has a fifty-two week low of $153.41 and a fifty-two week high of $212.71.

Astrazeneca (NYSE:AZN - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.50 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $15.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.44 billion. Astrazeneca had a return on equity of 31.45% and a net margin of 17.02%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.17 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Astrazeneca Plc will post 9.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Astrazeneca

Here are the key news stories impacting Astrazeneca this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Higher FY2026 earnings estimate: Erste Group Bank raised its FY2026 EPS forecast for AstraZeneca to $10.45 from $10.34, well above the broader consensus estimate of $9.36. The revision suggests improving confidence in the company’s earnings outlook. Erste Group Bank raises AstraZeneca FY2026 EPS estimate
• Positive Sentiment: Efzimfotase alfa could become a significant growth driver: Citi maintained its “buy” rating and £186 price target after Phase III HICKORY data for AstraZeneca’s rare-disease therapy. Citi estimates peak sales could reach approximately $4.4 billion—nearly twice its current base case—if the drug receives broad approval for adult patients with hypophosphatasia in the United States. AstraZeneca efzimfotase alfa sales potential
• Neutral Sentiment: ASBMR presentation provides additional pipeline information: AstraZeneca presented efzimfotase alfa data at the 2026 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research meeting. The presentation supports investor interest in the program, but commercial value remains dependent on regulatory approval, labeling and eventual market adoption. AstraZeneca ASBMR 2026 presentation transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Broker sentiment remains constructive: Wall Street brokerages rate AstraZeneca “Moderate Buy,” while a comparison with Vanda Pharmaceuticals does not introduce a material new company-specific catalyst. AstraZeneca Moderate Buy rating

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AZN has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Astrazeneca from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Monday, September 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Astrazeneca in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. They set an "outperform" rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Astrazeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 15th. HSBC lowered Astrazeneca from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $206.67.

Astrazeneca Profile

AstraZeneca PLC is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Its research, development and commercial operations focus on prescription medicines for serious and chronic diseases, with an emphasis on discovering and delivering innovative therapies rather than operating as a diversified healthcare conglomerate.

The company's principal therapeutic areas include oncology; cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases; respiratory and immunological conditions; and rare diseases.

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