Gradient Investments LLC Has $16.96 Million Holdings in Astrazeneca Plc $AZN

Key Points

• Gradient Investments LLC increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 1,098.9% in Q4 to 184,445 shares, worth about $16.96 million.
• Analysts' consensus is a Moderate Buy (nine Buys, one Sell) with a consensus price target of $95.75.
• AstraZeneca announced a $1.595 per-share dividend payable March 23 (ex-dividend date February 20), with a reported payout ratio of 66.26%.

Gradient Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN - Free Report) by 1,098.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 184,445 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 169,060 shares during the quarter. Gradient Investments LLC's holdings in Astrazeneca were worth $16,956,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Binnacle Investments Inc boosted its stake in Astrazeneca by 21.8% during the third quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 660 shares of the company's stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. boosted its position in shares of Astrazeneca by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. now owns 3,795 shares of the company's stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Astrazeneca by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. 44 Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,722 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,283,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC raised its stake in Astrazeneca by 30.6% during the 3rd quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 534 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Finally, Highline Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Astrazeneca by 32.0% during the 3rd quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC now owns 532 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 129 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Citigroup started coverage on Astrazeneca in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. HSBC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $108.00 target price on shares of Astrazeneca in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "sell" rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings assumed coverage on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. They set a "buy (b)" rating on the stock. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $95.75.

Astrazeneca Price Performance

AZN opened at $183.40 on Monday. Astrazeneca Plc has a fifty-two week low of $122.48 and a fifty-two week high of $212.71. The stock has a market cap of $284.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.59, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.94.

Astrazeneca Dividend Announcement

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

Astrazeneca Profile

AstraZeneca plc is a global 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 positions itself as R&D-driven, investing in discovery science, clinical development and regulatory processes to bring new therapies to market.

The company’s commercial portfolio and late-stage pipeline emphasize oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic (CVRM) diseases, and respiratory and immunology.

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