AstraZeneca (LON:AZN) Hits New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as £135.08 and last traded at £134.66, with a volume of 2115740 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at £131.26.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on AZN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “hold” rating and set a £110 price target on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday. Berenberg Bank boosted their price target on AstraZeneca from £142 to £145 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a £150 price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a “buy” rating and set a £145 target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of £138.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of £209.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.83. The business’s 50-day moving average is £122.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is £112.82.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Aradhana Sarin sold 9,563 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of £115.12, for a total transaction of £1,100,892.56. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas – Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology.