Assenagon Asset Management S.A. 13F: Adds $211M to AZN Stake

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. substantially grew its investment in AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) during the recent quarter, according to a Form 13F filed with the SEC on October 15, 2026. Institutional 13F filings are backward-looking documents that reveal a fund's holdings at the close of a quarter and may not reflect its present stance.

What Changed in Assenagon Asset Management's AstraZeneca Position

The fund increased its position by 1,308,232 shares, marking a 96.8% jump from the prior period. Assenagon ended the quarter holding 2,660,409 shares of the drug maker. The total value of the position came in at approximately $429.8 million.

Other Institutional Activity in AstraZeneca

Investor AB held steady with 51,587,810 shares valued at about $8,533,139,841, showing no change in its stake. Vanguard Capital Management LLC grew its holdings by 346,803 shares, ending with 45,386,190 shares worth about $7,507,329,854 after a 0.8% increase. Capital International Investors lifted its stake by 182,287 shares, or 0.5%, bringing its total to 34,576,070 shares valued at roughly $5,719,227,865. NORGES BANK raised its holdings by 33,226,081 shares, a 5,207.1% surge that resulted in 33,864,172 shares worth about $5,601,472,814. Capital World Investors grew its position by 1,811,687 shares, representing a 6.4% increase to 30,075,134 shares valued at approximately $4,974,728,025.

AstraZeneca PLC Stock Holds Steady

AstraZeneca recently traded around $166.71 as of October 16, 2026. The stock sits 2.9% above its 50-day moving average of $162.05, while trading 7.9% below its 200-day moving average. Shares have moved between a 52-week low of $153.41 and a 52-week high of $212.71. The company carries a forward P/E ratio of 14.58.

Recent Earnings

AstraZeneca generated trailing-twelve-month revenue of $61.37 billion alongside earnings of $6.69 per share. The biopharmaceutical firm posted a net profit margin of 17.0% and a return on equity of 22.0%. Revenue grew 6.4% year-over-year. Investors are looking ahead to the company's next earnings report scheduled for October 30, 2026.

Dividend

AstraZeneca pays an annual dividend of $3.20 per share, which translates to a yield of 1.92%. The payout ratio stands at 46.9%, showing how much of its earnings the company distributes to shareholders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

On August 24, 2026, CICC initiated coverage on the stock with an Outperform rating and a $198.00 price target. Across the broader analyst community, AstraZeneca holds a consensus Buy rating with a mean price target of $207.16 based on 12 analyst opinions.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca PLC is a global biopharmaceutical enterprise headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The firm discovers, develops, and manufactures prescription medications across major therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular disease, and rare illnesses. Large investments from funds like Assenagon highlight ongoing portfolio adjustments ahead of critical drug development milestones and quarterly updates.

Bottom Line

Assenagon's decision to nearly double its holdings places a significant bet on the drug maker's pipeline. Market participants will monitor the company's upcoming earnings release on October 30, 2026, for further updates on commercial performance.