Astrazeneca (AZN) Rises As Market Takes a Dip: Key Facts

In the latest close session, Astrazeneca (AZN) was up +1.93% at $91.56. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.16%. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.59%. Heading into today, shares of the pharmaceutical had gained 0.82% over the past month, lagging the Medical sector's gain of 1.12% and outpacing the S&P 500's loss of 0.21%.Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Astrazeneca in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.09, signifying a 3.81% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $15.76 billion, indicating a 5.81% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $4.6 per share and a revenue of $58.91 billion, demonstrating changes of +11.92% and +8.95%, respectively, from the preceding year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Astrazeneca should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential. Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.09% higher. Currently, Astrazeneca is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). In terms of valuation, Astrazeneca is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 19.51. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 18.17 of its industry. Investors should also note that AZN has a PEG ratio of 1.66 right now. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.66. The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 87, finds itself in the top 36% echelons of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions. 5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the months ahead. They includeStock #1: A Disruptive Force with Notable Growth and ResilienceStock #2: Bullish Signs Signaling to Buy the DipStock #3: One of the Most Compelling Investments in the MarketStock #4: Leader In a Red-Hot Industry Poised for GrowthStock #5: Modern Omni-Channel Platform Coiled to SpringMost of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +171%, +209% and +232%.Download Atomic Opportunity: Nuclear Energy's Comeback free today.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks