AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) Rating Increased to Hold at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. HSBC started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Monday, December 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $80.00.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of AZN traded down $0.47 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $68.27. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,361,865 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,234,321. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.50. AstraZeneca has a one year low of $60.47 and a one year high of $76.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $65.96 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $65.83.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.74 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $12.02 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.07 billion. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.00% and a return on equity of 30.19%. AstraZeneca's revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.69 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that AstraZeneca will post 4.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 25th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd were issued a $0.965 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. This is an increase from AstraZeneca's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.47. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.52%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AstraZeneca

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in AstraZeneca during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 4,875.0% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 398 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.