HUB Investment Partners LLC Increases Stake in AstraZeneca PLC

HUB Investment Partners LLC has recently announced a 9.1% increase in its holdings of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) during the fourth quarter. This information was revealed in their latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Following this increase, the investment fund now owns a total of 94,039 shares of AstraZeneca after acquiring an additional 7,834 shares during this period. The total value of HUB Investment Partners LLC's stake in AstraZeneca stood at approximately $6,161,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

In addition to HUB Investment Partners LLC, several other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in AstraZeneca. For instance, Nordea Investment Management AB entered a new position in the company with an investment of $754,000 during the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Diversify Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings by 3.6%, bringing their total to 4,402 shares, which are now valued at $295,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC significantly increased its stake by 25.9% with 9,487 shares valued at $622,000 after purchasing 1,949 extra shares. Additionally, Oak Ridge Investments LLC enhanced its holdings by 5.4%, growing to 143,973 shares worth $9,433,000 after their own acquisition of 7,341 shares in the same quarter. Lastly, Asio Capital LLC expanded its position by 11.6%, resulting in ownership of 53,541 shares valued at $3,508,000 following the purchase of 5,569 shares.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

The stock of AstraZeneca was priced at $76.32 when it opened on Thursday. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $62.75 and a high of $87.68. The company's financial metrics include a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.74, and a current ratio of 0.93. AstraZeneca boasts a market capitalization of $236.68 billion and has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.77, with a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.42, and a beta of 0.41. Moreover, the stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $72.16.

AstraZeneca's Earnings and Dividends

AstraZeneca reported its quarterly earnings on February 6th, stating earnings per share (EPS) of $1.05, which fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.05. The company achieved a net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. Predictions for the upcoming year suggest that AstraZeneca is expected to post an EPS of 4.51.

Additionally, the company announced a semi-annual dividend, set to be paid on March 24th. Shareholders who were on record as of February 21st will receive a dividend of $1.03 per share, which is an increase from the previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. This change reflects a dividend yield of 2%, with a payout ratio currently at 91.15%.

Analyst Ratings Overview

Recently, multiple research firms have shared their opinions regarding AstraZeneca's stock. Morgan Stanley began coverage on the company with an "overweight" rating. On the other hand, UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating. Out of all analysts covering the stock, one has issued a hold rating, while seven have provided buy ratings, and two have labeled it as a strong buy. According to MarketBeat.com, AstraZeneca currently holds an average rating of "buy" with a consensus target price set at $89.75.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca PLC is a biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription medications. Its portfolio features numerous products utilized in various health disciplines, including oncology, cardiovascular, and renal drugs.

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