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Highlights

  • AstraZeneca receives a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating from six covering brokerages
  • Analysts' 12-month average price target stands at USD 89.00 per share
  • Shares are trading near USD 68.79, down from a 52-week high of USD 87.68

AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ: AZN) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six analysts currently covering the stock, according to a recent report by MarketBeat.com. Among them, one issued a "Hold" rating while five analysts rated the stock a "Buy". The average 12-month price target assigned to AZN stands at USD 89.00, suggesting potential upside from current levels.

Recent brokerage commentary includes BNP Paribas initiating coverage with an “Outperform” rating and a USD 75.00 price target in mid-April, while Berenberg Bank set a higher target of USD 97.00 in a note issued on July 9th. The variance in targets reflects differing views on AstraZeneca’s forward growth and valuation trajectory in the pharmaceutical sector.

The stock opened at USD 68.79 on Tuesday, reflecting a 0.7% decline on the day. AstraZeneca’s stock has been moving within a range of USD 61.24 to USD 87.68 over the past 52 weeks. With a market capitalization of approximately USD 213.34 billion, the company trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27.63, and a PEG ratio of 1.26, indicating moderate valuation relative to earnings growth expectations.

The company last reported earnings on April 29, posting an earnings per share (EPS) of USD 1.24, beating the consensus estimate of USD 1.10. Quarterly revenue came in at USD 13.59 billion, just shy of the USD 13.71 billion analysts had projected. On a year-over-year basis, revenue increased by 7.2%. The firm also recorded a return on equity of 33.14% and a net margin of 14.14%. Analysts project the full-year EPS for 2025 to be around USD 4.51.

Institutional investors continue to adjust their stakes in AZN. Notable activity in the second quarter includes Pure Financial Advisors LLC initiating a new position valued at USD 225,000, and Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC boosting its stake by 46.2%. Overall, hedge funds and institutional entities hold roughly 20.35% of the outstanding stock.

AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio of treatments targeting oncology, cardiovascular, renal, metabolism, and respiratory diseases. Its key products include Farxiga, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, and Symbicort among others.