AstraZeneca is the top-ranked drugmaker in its group. Its Covid drugs are fighting for market share in an increasingly crowded market. And AstraZeneca stock is holding up despite a fluctuating overall market.
Last Thursday, the company reported stronger than expected revenue and earnings growth for 2021. And it guided to strong growth in 2022. However, on Monday afternoon AstraZeneca stock, which briefly joined the elite IBD 50 list last month, slid about 1%. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca stock is the top-ranked among the six stocks in IBD's Medical-Diversified companies group.
AstraZeneca Stock Top 12% Of All Stocks
"AstraZeneca continued on its strong growth trajectory in 2021, with industry-leading R&D productivity, five of our medicines crossing new blockbuster
thresholds, and the acquisition and integration of Alexion," CEO Pascal Soriot said in the Feb. 10 earnings news release.
Among its key ratings, U.K.-based AstraZeneca stock has an 88 IBD Composite Rating, of a best-possible 99. That puts it in the top 12% of all companies.
The Composite Rating combines five other key ratings. They include EPS, Relative Price Strength, Accumulation/Distribution, Industry Group Relative Strength and SMR. The best growth stocks have a Composite Rating of 90 or better.
The maker of branded prescription drugs to treat various illnesses carries a good-but-not-great 71 EPS Rating amid its rising profit growth rate. Bullishly, it has a best-possible A SMR Rating (sales+profit margins+return on equity), indicating strong fundamentals.
And its B- Accumulation/Distribution Rating on an A+ to E scale, buttresses that bullish stance. The B- rating points to fairly strong buying of AstraZeneca stock by institutional investors.
EPS, Revenue Growth Accelerating
Earnings shot up 57% last quarter, to 85 cents per share. Its EPS growth rate rose over the last three quarters, from -7% to 6% to 57%. Revenue growth also accelerated over the past year. Revenue grew 15% year over year to 31%, 50% and then 62% last quarter, for a record $1.2 billion.
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AstraZeneca stock is building a consolidation with a 64.31 entry. See if the stock can clear the breakout price in heavy trading.
AstraZeneca stock earns the No. 1 rank among its peers in the Medical-Diversified industry group. Eli Lilly and Danaher are also among the group's highest-rated stocks.
