Q4 EPS Estimates for AstraZeneca Increased by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research has increased its Q4 2026 earnings per share estimate for AstraZeneca to $1.35, up from $1.30, reflecting positive financial outlook.
• Berenberg Bank set a price target of $97.00 for AstraZeneca, with the stock receiving a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $86.00.
• AstraZeneca recently announced a semi-annual dividend of $0.505 per share, despite a significant dividend payout ratio of 37.97%.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) - Zacks Research raised their Q4 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of AstraZeneca in a note issued to investors on Thursday, September 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will earn $1.35 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.30. The consensus estimate for AstraZeneca's current full-year earnings is $4.51 per share.

Separately, Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 price target on AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, AstraZeneca has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $86.00.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $79.56 on Monday. The stock's fifty day moving average is $75.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.93. The company has a market capitalization of $246.74 billion, a PE ratio of 29.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. AstraZeneca has a 52 week low of $61.24 and a 52 week high of $82.41.

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 the consensus estimate of $1.09. The company had revenue of $14.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.08 billion. AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.84% and a net margin of 14.68%.AstraZeneca's quarterly revenue was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.24 EPS.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Primecap Management Co. CA grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 1.3% in the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 41,200,091 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,879,062,000 after purchasing an additional 538,606 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 0.9% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 21,298,394 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,488,332,000 after purchasing an additional 196,401 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 2.6% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 20,695,979 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,446,235,000 after purchasing an additional 530,520 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 30.9% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 13,647,948 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,003,124,000 after purchasing an additional 3,224,251 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its holdings in AstraZeneca by 15.2% in the second quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 12,167,365 shares of the company's stock valued at $850,255,000 after purchasing an additional 1,605,133 shares during the period. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AstraZeneca Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 8th. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th were issued a dividend of $0.505 per share. This represents a yield of 200.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 8th. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.97%.

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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