United Capital Financial Advisors LLC Sells 4,993 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC trimmed its position in AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 10.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 44,277 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,993 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $2,901,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its position in shares of AstraZeneca by 68.9% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 608 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in AstraZeneca by 2,618.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 734 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 707 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $55,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the 4th quarter worth about $55,000. Institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of AZN opened at $67.54 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $209.47 billion, a PE ratio of 29.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.49. AstraZeneca PLC has a 1-year low of $61.24 and a 1-year high of $87.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $73.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $70.65.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.05 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 32.23%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st were given a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a yield of 2%. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. AstraZeneca’s payout ratio is 91.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on AZN. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Tuesday. They set an “outperform” rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group upgraded AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $86.80.

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.