Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board Decreases Stake in Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA)

Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board cut its stake in shares of Azenta, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZTA - Free Report) by 72.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,159 shares of the company's stock after selling 15,816 shares during the quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board's holdings in Azenta were worth $308,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Picton Mahoney Asset Management grew its holdings in shares of Azenta by 305.7% during the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 706 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 532 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Azenta during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Azenta by 64.2% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,043 shares of the company's stock worth $102,000 after acquiring an additional 799 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV grew its holdings in Azenta by 48.5% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,137 shares of the company's stock worth $107,000 after acquiring an additional 698 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Azenta by 39.8% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 2,856 shares of the company's stock worth $143,000 after acquiring an additional 813 shares during the last quarter. 99.08% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Azenta Price Performance

Shares of Azenta stock traded up $1.34 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $26.39. 233,188 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 641,327. Azenta, Inc. has a 1-year low of $24.06 and a 1-year high of $63.58. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $36.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $43.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a PE ratio of -8.86 and a beta of 1.66.

Azenta (NASDAQ:AZTA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.05 by $0.03. Azenta had a negative net margin of 24.91% and a positive return on equity of 1.25%. Equities research analysts expect that Azenta, Inc. will post 0.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AZTA shares. TD Cowen raised shares of Azenta to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Azenta from $50.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Azenta in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on shares of Azenta from $55.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

Azenta Profile

Azenta, Inc provides biological and chemical compound sample exploration and management solutions for the life sciences market in North America, Africa, China, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates in two reportable segments, Life Sciences Products and Life Sciences Services.