AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) Shares Purchased by Scotia Capital Inc.

Key Points

• Scotia Capital Inc. increased its position in AstraZeneca shares by 30.9% during the 1st quarter, owning 303,485 shares valued at $22.3 million after acquiring an additional 71,688 shares.
• AstraZeneca's stock has seen a one-year range with a low of $61.24 and a high of $87.68, and it currently trades around $73.95.
• The company reported a revenue increase of 16.1% year-over-year, reaching $14.46 billion, with an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.09, meeting analysts' expectations.

Scotia Capital Inc. raised its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) by 30.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 303,485 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 71,688 shares during the quarter. Scotia Capital Inc.'s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $22,306,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 7,574 shares of the company's stock valued at $557,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 28,053 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,062,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 4,478 shares of the company's stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 31.8% during the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 642 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Oakworth Capital Inc. boosted its stake in AstraZeneca by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. now owns 8,575 shares of the company's stock valued at $630,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 20.35% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on AZN. BNP Paribas began coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $75.00 price target for the company. Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 price target on AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $89.00.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AZN opened at $73.95 on Friday. AstraZeneca PLC has a one year low of $61.24 and a one year high of $87.68. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $71.55 and a 200-day moving average of $71.41. The company has a market capitalization of $229.34 billion, a PE ratio of 27.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.86.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.09. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.84% and a net margin of 14.68%. The company had revenue of $14.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.24 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be given a dividend of $0.505 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 200.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio is 77.44%.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company's marketed products include Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Farxiga, Brilinta, Lokelma, Roxadustat, Andexxa, Crestor, Seloken, Onglyza, Bydureon, Fasenra, Breztri, Symbicort, Saphnelo, Tezspire, Pulmicort, Bevespi, and Daliresp for cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and oncology.

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