Astrazeneca Plc $AZN Shares Newly Bought by Goelzer Investment Management Inc.

Goelzer Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Astrazeneca Plc (NYSE:AZN) during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 39,625 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,398,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amundi raised its holdings in Astrazeneca by 146,574.4% in the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 15,386,149 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,034,456,000 after acquiring an additional 15,375,659 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its stake in Astrazeneca by 889.9% during the first quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 11,949,424 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,319,947,000 after purchasing an additional 10,742,268 shares during the period. Rathbones Group PLC grew its stake in shares of Astrazeneca by 106,772.0% in the 1st quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 8,054,943 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,560,419,000 after buying an additional 8,047,406 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Astrazeneca by 208.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 10,386,455 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,048,417,000 after buying an additional 7,021,126 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Swiss National Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Astrazeneca during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,202,714,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 20.35% of the company’s stock.

Astrazeneca Stock Down 0.9%

AZN stock opened at $165.23 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $256.26 billion, a PE ratio of 24.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a fifty day moving average of $162.16 and a 200-day moving average of $176.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.89. Astrazeneca Plc has a one year low of $153.41 and a one year high of $212.71.

Astrazeneca (NYSE:AZN) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.50 by $0.13. Astrazeneca had a net margin of 17.02% and a return on equity of 31.45%. The business had revenue of $15.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $15.44 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.17 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Astrazeneca Plc will post 9.38 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Astrazeneca from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. CICC Research started coverage on Astrazeneca in a report on Sunday, August 23rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $198.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a research note on Tuesday, October 6th. Finally, Bank of America restated a “buy” rating on shares of Astrazeneca in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Fifteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $206.67.

Astrazeneca News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Astrazeneca this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AI partnership expands pipeline potential: AstraZeneca agreed to collaborate with insitro on machine-learning-based drug discovery for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and cardiomyopathies. The deal could be worth up to $1.5 billion, including upfront and milestone payments plus royalties, giving AstraZeneca access to new potential therapies while spreading early-stage research risk. AstraZeneca Enters AI Drug Discovery Partnership
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive: RBC Capital Markets reiterated its “outperform” rating and 14,500-pence target, forecasting third-quarter revenue and core EPS modestly above consensus ahead of AstraZeneca’s October 30 results. Citi also raised its target to £186. RBC Keeps AstraZeneca at Outperform
• Positive Sentiment: Potentially attractive valuation: A market commentary highlighted that AZN has declined more than 8% this year even though operating performance has remained relatively resilient. The article points to a forward price-to-earnings multiple of about 14.6 times as a possible long-term buying opportunity. AstraZeneca Valuation Commentary
• Neutral Sentiment: Options activity surged: Investors purchased 49,737 call options, more than 14 times typical volume. This may signal bullish positioning, but options activity alone does not establish a fundamental change in the company’s outlook.
• Neutral Sentiment: Mixed analyst signal: Zacks Research upgraded AstraZeneca from “strong sell” to “hold,” indicating reduced pessimism but not a bullish recommendation. AZN is also being monitored for breast-cancer sales growth, expanded approvals and clinical milestones.
• Negative Sentiment: Underperformance remains an overhang: AstraZeneca continues to lag the broader market, and investors may be waiting for upcoming earnings and the AVANZAR lung-cancer trial before assigning greater value to its pipeline.

Astrazeneca Company Profile

AstraZeneca PLC is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Its research, development and commercial operations focus on prescription medicines for serious and chronic diseases, with an emphasis on discovering and delivering innovative therapies rather than operating as a diversified healthcare conglomerate.

The company’s principal therapeutic areas include oncology; cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases; respiratory and immunological conditions; and rare diseases.