Dallas, Texas 02/20/2014 (FINANCIALSTRENDS) – Stock of AstraZeneca PLC (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) will go ex-dividend on February 19th, 2014. The company’s dividend payment of $1.9 per share is scheduled for payment on March 24th. Shareholders of the stock who possess long positions prior to the ex-div date will qualify for the cash dividend.
AstraZeneca plc (ADR) (NYSE:AZN) share price saw a depletion of 0.71% yesterday while 1.11% during the preceding trading session. The company was trading with a market capitalization of 85.87 billion when the market closed yesterday at a close price of $65.78, opening price for the day was $66.05. Daily range for the stock was $65.77 to $66.58. The operational performance of the company came up to 5.81% during the last week. There was unusual trading n the stock yesterday. In total 3.68 million shares changed hands while average volume for this stock comes up to only 2.67 million. Over 1.2 billion shares of common stock are afloat the stock screener. Out of total float approximately 11% is institutional holding.
On Friday, the company’s underperform rating was reiterated by Credit Suisse. The main factor contributing to a gloomy outlook by analysts is the fact that the company forecasts a -4.17% Earnings per share in the coming year even when the EPS grew by 59% since the last year.
In the start of February 2014 the company announced that it has completed the takeover of Bristol-Mayers Squib’s share in their combined Diabetics alliance. Through the acquisition the company has took over rights on intellectual property in diabetics business and the exclusive rights to manufacture and commercialize the diabetics’ products within the US region, thus opening way for stronger global foothold.
The 52-week range was $44.46 to $68.35 which shows a 23.89% increment. The stock is also trading at 9.28% of its simple moving average of 50.
