A wide economic moat, strong margins at 17%, a strong Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, and a 3-of-4 earnings beat record underpin a high-quality franchise that offers 10.2% headroom to the target with a 2.3-to-1 risk/reward — the sole near-term drag is weakening price momentum, which keeps the setup in a holding pattern rather than an active buy.
Thesis pillars
- Wide Moat Quality Franchise→Stable
- Earnings Beat Track Record→Stable
- Momentum Headwind Weakening Price Action↑Improving
- +2 more pillars — see the Why tab for full reasoning
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) Stock Analysis
Catalyst-Driven edge
Healthcare · Drug Manufacturers - General
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $166.68, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 8.1%; Weak growth.
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company offers Imjudo, Datroway, Iressa, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex,... Read more
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $166.68, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 8.1%; Weak growth. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Maintain position. Not compelling to add more. Score 5.8/10, moderate confidence.
Passes 6/8 gates (positive momentum, clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, news events none recent, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Fails on favorable risk/reward ratio. Suitability: moderate.
Recent developments
updated 2026-10-16Recent Developments — AstraZeneca PLC
Latest news
- NEWS AstraZeneca (AZN) Stock Slips Despite Q1 Revenue and EPS Beat – Here’s Why - MEXC — MEXC positive
- NEWS AstraZeneca: Q1 Earnings Analysis: An Excellent Long-Term Buy And Hold (NYSE:AZN) - Seeking Alpha — Seeking Alpha positive
- NEWS What's Going On With AstraZeneca Stock Wednesday? - AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) - Benzinga — Benzinga neutral
- NEWS AstraZeneca PLC 2026 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation (NYSE:AZN) 2026-04-29 - Seeking Alpha — Seeking Alpha neutral
- NEWS AZN Q1 Earnings and Sales Beat, Key Drugs Offset Generic Pressure - TradingView — TradingView positive
Generated 2026-10-16T11:37:13Z.
Upcoming dated catalysts
Thesis
Key Metrics
Quality Signals
Options Flow
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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Rating Breakdown
2 floor-breakers
Growth below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static
Technicals below the gate floor. Component breakdown shows what dragged the score down.static
Price Targets
Position Sizing
Risk Alerts
Earnings
Verdict History
Frequently Asked Questions
Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $166.68, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 8.1%; Weak growth. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Maintain position. Not compelling to add more. Target $180.23 (+8.1%), stop $159.28 (−4.6%), A.R:R 1.1:1. Score 5.8/10, moderate confidence.
Take-profit target: $180.23 (+8.1% upside). Target $180.23 (+8.1%), stop $159.28 (−4.6%), A.R:R 1.1:1. Stop-loss: $159.28.
Thin upside margin: 8.1%; Weak growth.
AstraZeneca PLC trades at a P/E of 24.9 (forward 14.7). TrendMatrix value score: 6.2/10. Verdict: Hold.
35 analysts cover AZN with a consensus score of 4.1/5. Average price target: $207.
What does AstraZeneca PLC do?AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization...
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company offers Imjudo, Datroway, Iressa, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Crestor, Andexxa, Onglyza, Symlin, XIGDUO XR, Atacand, Atacand HCT, Atacand Plus, Farxiga/Forxiga, Plendil, Modip, Splendil, Munobal, Flodil, Tenormin, Tenormine, Prenormine, Atenol, Zestril, Brilinta/Brilique, Komboglyze, Qtern, Wainua, Byetta, Lokelma, Seloken ZOK, Toprol-XL, Betaloc ZOK, XIGDUO, Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon, Bricanyl Respules, Eklira Genuair/Tudorza/Bretaris, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, Symbicort Turbuhaler, Airsupra, Bricanyl Turbuhaler, Fasenra, Rhinocort, Tezspire, Bevespi Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Oxis Turbuhaler, Saphnelo, Breztri Aerosphere, Duaklir Genuair, Pulmicort Respules, and Symbicort pMDI. It also provides Beyfortus, Kavigale, Evusheld, Fluenz/FluMist, Synagis, Kanuma, Ultomiris, Koselugo, Voydeya, Soliris, Strensiq, Nexium, and other medicines. The company offers its products for ocology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, respiratory & immunology, vaccines and immune, and therapies for rare diseases. It serves primary and specialty care physicians through distributors and local representative offices in the United Kingdom, the Americas, rest of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. It has a strategic agreement with Tempus and Pathos to develop the multimodal foundation model in oncology; CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited to advance the discovery and development of oral candidates, with the potential to treat diseases across multiple indications; Nucs AI Inc. to develop AI-driven Response Prediction for Therapeutic Radioconjugates; and Carterra, Inc. to advances lab-in-the-loop drug discovery through new scientific research collaboration. The company was formerly known as Zeneca Group PLC and changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC in April 1999. AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.