Investors Buy High Volume of AstraZeneca Call Options (NASDAQ:AZN)

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Traders purchased 8,615 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 13% compared to the average daily volume of 7,609 call options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on AZN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of AstraZeneca from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, September 13th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of AstraZeneca from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of AstraZeneca from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $89.75.

AstraZeneca Price Performance

Shares of AstraZeneca stock opened at $66.27 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.69. AstraZeneca has a fifty-two week low of $60.47 and a fifty-two week high of $87.68. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $78.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $78.77. The company has a market cap of $205.48 billion, a PE ratio of 32.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.47.

Institutional Trading of AstraZeneca

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. MQS Management LLC increased its stake in AstraZeneca by 303.4% in the third quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 10,681 shares of the company’s stock valued at $832,000 after acquiring an additional 8,033 shares during the period. Simmons Bank raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. Simmons Bank now owns 39,074 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,044,000 after buying an additional 2,663 shares in the last quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 27.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. now owns 32,850 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,562,000 after buying an additional 7,013 shares in the last quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd raised its holdings in shares of AstraZeneca by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd now owns 4,398 shares of the company’s stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aigen Investment Management LP acquired a new position in shares of AstraZeneca in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $308,000. 20.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.