Zacks Research Predicts Increased Earnings for AstraZeneca

Key Points

• Zacks Research has increased its earnings estimates for AstraZeneca for FY2025 to $4.52 per share, up from a previous forecast of $4.50.
• AstraZeneca's stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $86.00, while Berenberg Bank has set a target price of $97.00.
• The company reported a quarterly earnings of $1.09 EPS in its last earnings announcement, matching consensus estimates, with a 16.1% increase in revenue year-over-year.

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research boosted their FY2025 earnings estimates for AstraZeneca in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, August 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will earn $4.52 per share for the year, up from their prior estimate of $4.50. The consensus estimate for AstraZeneca's current full-year earnings is $4.51 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AstraZeneca's Q4 2025 earnings at $1.07 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.16 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $1.37 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $5.62 EPS.

Separately, Berenberg Bank set a $97.00 target price on AstraZeneca in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $86.00.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock traded down $0.05 during trading on Friday, hitting $79.12. The stock had a trading volume of 3,017,672 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,665,339. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. AstraZeneca has a 12 month low of $61.24 and a 12 month high of $87.68. The firm has a market cap of $245.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.36. The business's 50-day moving average is $72.44 and its 200 day moving average is $71.97.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported $1.09 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.09. AstraZeneca had a net margin of 14.68% and a return on equity of 32.84%. The business had revenue of $14.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.24 EPS. AstraZeneca's revenue was up 16.1% on a year-over-year basis.

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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. This represents a dividend yield of 200.0%. AstraZeneca's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.97%.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AZN. Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 1.9% in 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 position in AstraZeneca by 0.5% during the first quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 28,053 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,062,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC boosted its position in AstraZeneca by 3.4% during the first quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 4,478 shares of the company's stock valued at $329,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. grew its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 4.2% during the second quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 3,650 shares of the company's stock valued at $255,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richardson Financial Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 59.8% in the second quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 398 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 20.35% of the company's stock.

About AstraZeneca

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.