Sigma Planning Corp Sells 510 Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN)

Sigma Planning Corp reduced its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) by 11.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,112 shares of the company’s stock after selling 510 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in AstraZeneca were worth $269,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Oxbow Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 1,162.4% in the fourth quarter. Oxbow Advisors LLC now owns 37,343 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,447,000 after purchasing an additional 34,385 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Stockton grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 13.2% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Stockton now owns 4,688 shares of the company’s stock worth $307,000 after purchasing an additional 546 shares during the last quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 6.6% in the fourth quarter. Crumly & Associates Inc. now owns 7,083 shares of the company’s stock worth $464,000 after purchasing an additional 439 shares during the last quarter. Cordatus Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the fourth quarter worth approximately $205,000. Finally, Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 26,260 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,721,000 after purchasing an additional 595 shares during the last quarter. 20.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

AstraZeneca Stock Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $76.21 on Friday. 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 market capitalization of $236.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.46. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $73.07. AstraZeneca PLC has a 12 month low of $62.75 and a 12 month high of $87.68.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 13.01% and a return on equity of 32.23%. On average, equities analysts forecast that AstraZeneca PLC will post 4.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a yield of 2%. This is a positive change from AstraZeneca’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.49. AstraZeneca’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AZN. UBS Group upgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised AstraZeneca from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

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.