How to Buy AstraZeneca Shares UK

AstraZeneca Plc (AZN) Live share price

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How to Buy AstraZeneca Shares: A Step-by-Step Guide

With the right trading platform, you’ll find a straightforward process of buying AstraZeneca Plc shares. The process only takes a few minutes if you use one of the best trading platforms for UK investors.

To buy AstraZeneca shares, you need several things, which include a reputable means of payment, your passport or driving license, a smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop and access to stable internet. Below are the six steps:

Step One: Compare and Choose a Top-Rated Trading Platform

When you buy AstraZeneca shares online, you do it via an intermediary known as a stock broker. There’re many online stock broker sites available, providing different investment options and opportunities.

You need a stock broker with access to the New York stock exchange or the London stock exchange. Additional features to look out for when picking a trading platform are:

Low-Cost Brokerage

The increase of trading platforms has seen the costs of brokerage drop. If you do your homework well, you’ll find a trading platform that offers competitive brokerage rates. Be sure to check and compare brokerage rates against other important services and features the online stock broker offers.

A Friendly Trading Platform

The process of buying and selling AstraZeneca shares needs to be smooth. So you should choose a user-friendly platform. First, it should accept investors from your country, which is the UK. Second, it should be secure, and your preferred method of payment must be supported. You should also be able to access your account on your smartphone or tablet.

Research and Analysis

You should look for a trading platform that has a state-of-the-art research and reporting section. Make sure that the research and reporting section provides crucial information about AstraZeneca share price history, the company overview and past performance, dividend payments and price forecasts, to name just a few.

In addition to these features, you should also consider the reputation of the company since this’s highly crucial. Pick a platform with lots of positive reviews or one that a trusted financial regulator regulates. Compare trading platforms is a good place to start.

Step Two: Create an Account

You will need to create a trading account once you have found a company registered and licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority. This’s similar to a normal bank account, but it’s usually opened primarily online.

While some trading platforms make the entire process as simple as opening a Gmail account, others require between 24 hours and two days to complete the KYC process. Your AstraZeneca stock account will enable you to buy AstraZeneca UK shares and also sell them.

When you’re creating your account, you should be sure to provide correct details, including first and last name, username, password, phone number, National Insurance Number, nationality, home address and email account, to mention a  few. Providing correct AstraZeneca stock account details will make your verification process as smooth as possible, and you’ll be able to buy shares immediately.

Step Three: Confirm your Bank Information and Make a Minimum Deposit

You’ll need to have funds in your AstraZeneca stock account in order to buy shares. The funds must be deposited to your AstraZeneca stock account first, and this’s usually quick and straightforward. Modern AstraZeneca stock online trading platforms usually exchange AstraZeneca AZN bids and sell shares quickly.

Credit/Debit Cards and UK Bank Transfers are the most popular deposit methods. A range of providers allows you to make a deposit using different eWallets such as Neteller, PayPal and Skrill. Before you can deposit funds, you’ll need to confirm your bank details. Once they are correct, you will be able to make your first deposit.

Step Four: Search for the AstraZeneca Stock Code on Your Trading Platform

Once the funds are available in your account, it means that you can buy shares. The first step is to access the trading dashboard of your platform of choice and choose AstraZeneca. You can also use the search field to find AstraZeneca within the shortest possible time.

Be 100% sure to press the first option on your platform’s menu. And the best part is that you don’t need to search using the name AstraZeneca. You can use the AstraZeneca ticker, which is AZN. Whether you want to buy or sell shares, know the market value of AstraZeneca, or anything related, always use the ticker. It’ll help you save time.

Step Five: Research AstraZeneca Shares Information

AstraZeneca is currently a household term. But does it mean that it is a perfect time to open an investment account and buy shares?

To determine whether to purchase AstraZeneca shares or not, it is vital to research about this popular drug manufacturer and the current market price. When researching, you need to know all the basics, including AstraZeneca Plc’s investment strategy, ownership and previous performance.

It is advisable to seek personal advice from professional clients and experts. On top of that, you also need to look for AstraZeneca’s business model and suitable ways to use when buying shares, such as spread betting and derivatives trading.

Step Six: Buy AstraZeneca Shares Now

It’s now the right time to buy, sell and trade AstraZeneca shares. Log in to your brokerage account, choose AstraZeneca stock, enter the number of shares you want to purchase and press buy to complete your transaction. After buying your AstraZeneca AZN shares at the current price, you aren’t done yet.

It’s now vital to keep track of the AstraZeneca stock’s price and other investments in your portfolio. If you have direct ownership of AstraZeneca AZN stock and your intentions of investing were to achieve your long-term goals, it is important to attend yearly meetings and get all news and information about the company.

A Short History of AstraZeneca Plc

AstraZeneca was established on April 6th 1999, following a smooth blend of the Zeneca Group, a British company and Astra AB, a Swedish firm. As one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, the drug manufacturer has managed to make a range of major discoveries in the medical research industry.

For instance, in 2002, Japan approved one of its drugs, Iressa, for lung cancer. Other products that this company manufactures include treatments for arthritis and drugs to minimise inflammation in patients’ lungs. The latest discovery is that of creating the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Similar to other largest pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca AZN is an FTSE 100 Index constituent and has a key listing on both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Its headquarters are located in Cambridge, England, and Sir Pascal Soriot is the CEO while Leif Johansson is the chairperson.

Aside from medicinal inventions and advancements, AstraZeneca Plc has also made a range of major acquisitions. They include Definiens in 2014, Spirogen in 2013 and Cambridge Antibody Technology in 2006.

AstraZeneca Share Price History

Since the merger, AstraZeneca has expanded enormously, acquiring various medium-sized drug manufacturers. On top of that, the company has poured a significant amount of cash into research and innovation to manufacture treatments for infections, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and treatments for cancer.

Due to its growth, the AstraZeneca share price has also increased over the past few decades. When the pharmaceutical company was listed on the London Stock Exchange for the first time, the market price of shares was very low.

But today, the value of AstraZeneca shares has increased significantly. Much of this growth was triggered by the restructuring of the company in 2013. Also, the market price of AstraZeneca shares increased when the drug maker rejected a Pfizer takeover bid in 2014.

The AstraZeneca stock price reached all-time highs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In late April 2020, the company announced a partnership with the University of Oxford to create a coronavirus vaccine.

The company was moving its vaccine into phase two and three trials by July of the same year. In January 2021, the EU approved the drug manufacturer’s COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, the AstraZeneca stock price increased.

However, it went down slightly when the EU paused the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot fears. But it restated the rollout process after discovering that the vaccine doesn’t result in clots. The limited stock of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, as well as shipments to other states, has affected its stock price negatively.

Factors to Consider Before You Can Buy AstraZeneca Stock

Now that you have a lot of information about AstraZeneca shares, you need to know some of the factors to keep in mind before you can invest your hard-earned cash. Before buying the AstraZeneca stock, it’s important to consider the following factors:

Revenues

The first factor to take into consideration is the revenue stream of AstraZeneca. Ask yourself if there are any recent sales struggles. AstraZeneca has enjoyed a smooth sales journey for the past two years, despite the EU pausing the production and supply of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The company also has a number of products in its portfolio, making it one of the most suitable investments to make.

Before you can open a share dealing account with any platform, be sure to check its revenue streams. Make sure it has many products that can help it generate revenue. If one product isn’t performing well, the other one will be at its peak in terms of sales.

Profits and Loses

When it comes to profits and losses, things are looking good for AstraZeneca. Across the past three years, the drug manufacturer has only reported profits. One of the main things that make this company earn a lot of profit is its wide range of innovations and products.

The company releases its products at the right time when consumers really need them.For example, it released the COVID-19 vaccine when countries across the world were looking for a lasting solution to the pandemic.

If you begin investing with this company, then you should only look forward to positive future results because losses are not part of its investment strategy or plan. Only buy shares if your company of choice has a good history in terms of profits.

Levels of Debt

It is important to check if a company has any debts before you can make it your initial investment. There is nothing more worrying than a company having increased debt levels. Ensure the amount of debt is manageable by looking at the company’s EBITDA ratio.

It should be below around the three times-mark. Many fanciers start to take action when the EBITDA ratio surpasses this mark.

Other Fees

The world of stocks and shares is full of brokers. And each one of them is committed to attracting as many customers as possible. That is why investors can now find a limited number of fees linked to share dealings.

While each platform tries its best to reduce the number of different types of fees, you’ll be sure to find one or two on your trading website. The most common types of fees that you’ll come across on different brokerage sites are payment processing charges, commissions, third-party fees, inactivity fees, financial costs, stamp duty, FX conversion, and bid-offer spread.

The most common types of fees are FX conversions, which are related to converting currencies and third-party fees that apply when you decide to use a specific method of payment.

Where and How to Buy Shares

You can buy AstraZeneca UK shares in various ways. The most popular ways are: through a share dealing account or derivatives trading. Derivatives trading involves things like spread bets and trading CFDs.

Using either trading CFDs or spread betting enables you to speculate on the share price without taking direct ownership of the AstraZeneca shares. If you decide to use trading CFDs, you should know that they are associated with a risk of losing money rapidly.

With a share dealing account, you can invest directly in AstraZeneca shares. That means you take direct ownership of the shares. If you decide to own a stock dealing account, you can earn a profit if the sell prices are high. Also, it is possible to earn a profit from any dividends paid by the firm.

How to Buy Shares

If you want to trade AstraZeneca shares, you should follow these steps:

• Log in to your brokerage account
• Decide whether you want to use trading CFDs or spread betting
• Search for AstraZeneca
• Choose your position size or number of shares
• Confirm your trade or purchase

How to Find the Right Platform

Finding the best AstraZeneca stock broker isn’t an easy task since there’re multiple options to choose from. Luckily, you can pick from a list that investment professionals offer. But still, you will need to make sure that the option you pick blends smoothly with all of your needs and requirements.

Some of the features that you should look out for include a variety of exchanges through which you can buy and sell AstraZeneca shares and stocks, fees and commissions charged, and the margin rates that your broker offers. Also, it is vital to check if the broker accepts investors from your country.

Some brokerage sites can be very expensive for investors from certain countries, while others only charge a small fee. Not all brokers you find on the internet will provide you with the opportunity to purchase AstraZeneca shares. Some of them don’t have access to the most popular exchanges.

You’ll need a platform that allows you to access all popular exchanges. You should also factor into your decision research types, account types and educational materials that your online broker provides to enable you to trade AstraZeneca shares and meet all of your investment objectives and goals.

If you’re investing to achieve long-term goals like your own retirement or child’s education, you will need to find a brokerage site that offers a tax-advantaged account. And if you need funds for short-term purposes, like buying an investment property or a home, the best choice for you will be a taxable stock account.

Finally, you should be sure to check the safety features and reputation of the platform. Pick a platform with a good reputation and holds a license from one of the leading regulatory authorities in the world.

Are AstraZeneca Shares Overvalued or Undervalued?

To determine if the shares are undervalued or overvalued, you need to use the P/E ratio. The P/E ratio is the firm’s net profit amount divided by the outstanding shares. A stock is only overvalued if the P/E ratio is higher. Before you can invest in AstraZeneca shares, you should take into account the AZN P/E ratio.

An AstraZeneca share can only be overvalued if its current stock price doesn’t match its earnings forecast or the P/E ratio. Other metrics that can help determine if shares are overvalued or undervalued are EBITDA and PEG ratio.

A PEG ratio offers an extensive view compared to the P/E ratio. It offers more insight into AstraZeneca’s future results regarding profitability. The PEG ratio could also be helpful if you are comparing the stock price of different high-growth pharmaceutical firms.

On the other hand, EBITDA is a measure of the entire financial performance of AstraZeneca, and it is mainly used to measure the company’s profitability. Always compare the EBITDA of AstraZeneca against other pharmaceutical firms or similar companies before making your final decision.

Buy AstraZeneca Shares: Order Types

If you are looking to execute your trade, you will find different order types to choose from. The main ones are:

Market Order

This is an order to purchase AstraZeneca shares at the latest market price. Here is an example of a market order. Let’s say you make an order for shares at £100. You place your order successfully, but by the time it completes, the share price drops to £90.

This means that you will get your AstraZeneca shares at £90, which is the lower price. If the share price increases while the order is being affected, you will buy at £100, which is a higher price.

Limit Order

With this order, your AstraZeneca trade will only complete when the stock price is lower or reaches the price you have nominated. For example, let’s say you want to purchase AstraZeneca shares at a stock price of £100 or lower. Your limit order will only kick in when the price drops.

Stop Loss

This type of order helps you to reduce risks. A stop loss order allows you to nominate a share price at which you agree to sell your AstraZeneca shares.

If the share price goes into free fall, then you’ll need to sell your shares before your profits suffer colossal damage. But your brokerage platform will fill your order at the next market share price.

AstraZeneca CFD and Stock Market Times

The trading time for traditional shares for any company listed on the London Stock Exchange is between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm GMT on a regular trading day. Only brokerage operators can buy or sell within trading hours.

Concerning trading CFDs, traders can sell and buy twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and thirty days a month. Buying stocks and shares from a broker helps reduce your investment risks. Brokerage operators aren’t likely to offer any leverage on the AstraZeneca stock. As a result, this limits the risks of your initial investment.

What is the Business Model of AstraZeneca?

The business model of AstraZeneca is based on manufacturing treatments and medicines that contribute value to society and patients. AstraZeneca’s products focus on three significant areas, which are respiratory disease, metabolism, renal and cardiovascular.

The drug manufacturer has a worldwide presence for creating and distributing treatments in these areas of specialisation, including emerging markets such as China. AstraZeneca is focused on being a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, increasing the use of state-of-the-art technology and advancing top-notch science in these financial markets and fields of care.

How Does AstraZeneca Fit in Your Portfolio?

Before investing in AstraZeneca stock, you must first consider how much of your retirement portfolio is already invested. Increasing your AstraZeneca holdings risks your funds, especially when the performance of the company deteriorates.

Additionally, it is possible to miss out on the diversification benefits that originate from investing in different equities. It will help if you get investment advice from a financial professional before you can make any considerable changes to your current portfolio, whether related to AstraZeneca or not.

You should always focus on creating a well-diversified portfolio that features bonds, stocks, and funds if you are new to the world of shares. Ensure the cash you want to invest into the market is not required for something else.

Does AstraZeneca pay Dividends?

Yes, AstraZeneca does pay dividends, and is one of the many stock paying dividends companies to look out for.

Many companies pay dividends to their stockholders four times a year. Investing in dividends is the act of creating a stock portfolio that regularly pays over time. The stocks offer a steady income follow that can be helpful when you retire.

Remember, you cannot judge the AstraZeneca stock based on its dividend since when the firm is in jeopardy, its competitors can increase their dividends to attract investors.

The Market Capitalisation of AstraZeneca Stock

To find the market capitalisation of AstraZeneca stock, you need to multiply the number of outstanding shares by the share sell price. For example, if AstraZeneca has two million outstanding shares, which are priced at $100 per piece, its market cap is $200 million.

Knowing AstraZeneca’s market cap enables you to analyse a similar firm and decide where to invest. Never compare a company with a small market cap to one that has a huge cap.

Is AstraZeneca a Sell or Buy Company?

The total volume consists of selling and buying volumes. Selling volumes are linked to selling trades. On the other hand, the buying volumes are linked to buying volumes.

Investors know the right time to purchase AstraZeneca stock once they have conducted thorough research and are confident that the price will increase in the long or short term.

If you are willing to hold your stocks in your existing account until the price increases, then you’ll conclude that it’s the right time to invest in AstraZeneca stock.

Who Manages AstraZeneca?

As of 2008, the chief executive officer of AstraZeneca was David Brennan. On April 26th 2012, David Brennan retired in August the same year, Pascal Soriot became AstraZeneca’s CEO. Also, Leif Johansson succeeded Louis Schweitzer as the non-executive chairperson on June 1st 2012.

He became the chairperson of the Governance and Nomination committee after the Annual General Meeting of 2012. The non-executive board of directors includes Marcus Wallenberg, Andreas Rummelt, Nazneen Rahman, Tony Mok, Sheri McCoy, Diana Layfield, Deborah DiSanzo, Euan Ashley, Philip Broadley and Michel Demare.

How Much Does it Cost to Invest in AstraZeneca Stock?

The highest commission is available to active investors with a minimum of three monthly trade transactions. To know the amount of cash that you need in order to invest in AstraZeneca stock, you should join one of the recommended trading sites.

The AstraZeneca stock is affordable compared to other companies in the same area of expertise. Just choose the best platform to get started.

Why do Individuals Invest in AstraZeneca Stock?

A number of analysts and experts remain optimistic for AstraZeneca for numerous reasons. Even with the public image of AstraZeneca suffering due to the COVID-19 vaccine suspension, the drug maker has shown a very strong financial performance.

On top of that, it is still among a few pharmaceutical companies that supply the COVID-19 vaccine across the world. So, is it the right time to invest in AstraZeneca stock? Several products make AstraZeneca shares worth your funds. These products include:

COVID-19 Vaccine

The production of this vaccine is one of the main things that impact the AstraZeneca stock price. While the production and distribution haven’t gone well for AstraZeneca, the demand for the Covid-19 vaccine is still high.

Since the suspension of the vaccine by the EU, the price of shares has dropped to about 25% since their high when the vaccine was being distributed across Europe and other parts of the world.

From the start, the company sought to offer its COVID-19 vaccine at a cost that was affordable to developing countries. So as it starts to increase its production, the vaccine could lead in states across South Asia, South America and Africa.

Treatments for Cancer are Taking Off

The pharmaceutical company has received a lot of attention in terms of its COVID-19 vaccine. However, its strength lies in the production and distribution of cancer treatments.

Cancer treatments from this company account for more than 40% of its revenue. And what is more? AstraZeneca cancer treatments are currently on the rise.

For example, Tagrisso, a lung cancer treatment from this company, has increased its revenue by 58% in a period of one year. You should expect AstraZeneca to continue dominating this field.

Growth of Dividends is Likely

The increasing profits mean that the company is likely to offer greater rewards for its stockholders in the near future. Most of its profits are likely to increase, especially when its COVID-19 vaccine becomes more successful.

Also, the company has invested a lot of cash in the research and development of drugs, and this effort is likely to result in significant profits. Currently, the firm has over 160 projects in various completion stages.

FAQs about Buying AstraZeneca Shares

Useful resources

• London Stock Exchange
• Financial Conduct Authority
• Wikipedia

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