NEOS Investment Management LLC Increases Stock Holdings in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

NEOS Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 19.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,611 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,541 shares during the period. NEOS Investment Management LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $2,595,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of AZN. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 40,341 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,673,000 after purchasing an additional 923 shares during the period. Foundation Wealth Management LLC PA purchased a new position in AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter worth about $2,514,000. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca during the fourth quarter valued at about $2,713,000. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,049 shares of the company’s stock valued at $593,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 54.9% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 19,107 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,252,000 after acquiring an additional 6,775 shares during the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

NASDAQ:AZN opened at $73.79 on Friday. AstraZeneca PLC has a 52 week low of $62.75 and a 52 week high of $87.68. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $71.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market cap of $228.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.41.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.10 by ($0.05). AstraZeneca had a return on equity of 32.23% and a net margin of 13.01%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 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 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were issued a $1.03 dividend. This is a boost from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This represents a yield of 2%. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $89.75.

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.