AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN - Free Report) - Research analysts at Leerink Partnrs cut their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for AstraZeneca in a research note issued on Wednesday, February 5th. Leerink Partnrs analyst A. Berens now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $4.13 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $4.28. The consensus estimate for AstraZeneca's current full-year earnings is $4.66 per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for AstraZeneca's Q4 2024 earnings at $1.06 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.16 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.10 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $4.46 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $5.07 EPS.
AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.55%.
Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on AZN. UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised AstraZeneca from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.75.
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Shares of NASDAQ AZN opened at $72.66 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $225.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.46. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $67.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $73.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. AstraZeneca has a 52-week low of $60.47 and a 52-week high of $87.68.
Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 320.8% in the third quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 324 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 247 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in AstraZeneca in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Groupama Asset Managment grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 22.9% during the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 543,398 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 101,225 shares during the period. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the 3rd quarter worth about $45,000. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This is a boost from AstraZeneca's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca's payout ratio is currently 43.36%.
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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