Ninety One SA (Pty) 13F: Exits AstraZeneca (AZN) Stake

Ninety One SA has completely exited its investment in AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN), parting with its remaining 2,963 shares. The complete closeout was revealed in a Form 13F filing submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2026. Because 13F reports look backward at a prior quarter, this filing reflects holdings as of that past date and may not represent the fund's current stance.

What Changed in Ninety One SA's AstraZeneca Position

Prior to the complete exit, Ninety One SA held 2,963 shares of the drug manufacturer. The fund sold off every single share, dropping the position to zero and cutting ties with the stock for now. Institutional filings like this one show portfolio adjustments made over the course of a reporting period, capturing how money managers shift their capital across different healthcare assets.

Other Institutional Activity in AstraZeneca

While Ninety One SA moved on from the stock, other major asset managers took different paths during the reporting period. Investor AB held its ground steady with 51,587,810 shares valued at about $8.53 billion, making no changes to its size. Vanguard Capital Management LLC grew its holdings by 346,803 shares, ending with 45,386,190 shares worth about $7.51 billion after a 0.8% increase. Capital International Investors boosted its stake by 182,287 shares, finishing with 34,576,070 shares valued at roughly $5.72 billion following a 0.5% increase. Norges Bank made a massive addition, growing its holdings by 33,226,081 shares for a 5,207.1% jump, bringing its total to 33,864,172 shares worth about $5.60 billion. Finally, Capital World Investors lifted its stake by 1,811,687 shares, representing a 6.4% increase to end with 30,075,134 shares valued at approximately $4.97 billion.

AstraZeneca PLC Stock Holds Steady

AstraZeneca shares recently traded around $166.71 as of October 16, 2026. The stock sits about 2.9% above its 50-day moving average of $162.05, while trading 7.9% below its 200-day moving average of $181.05. Shares trade well below their 52-week high of $212.71 and sit higher than their 52-week low of $153.41.

Recent Earnings

AstraZeneca generated trailing-twelve-month revenue of $61.37 billion alongside trailing earnings of $6.69 per share. The company reported a net profit margin of 17.0% and a return on equity of 22.0%, paired with year-over-year revenue growth of 6.4%. The company is scheduled to release its next round of financial results on October 30, 2026.

Dividend

AstraZeneca pays an annual dividend rate of $3.20 per share, yielding 1.92%. The payout is supported by a dividend payout ratio of 46.9%.

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. Wall Street analysts overall maintain a consensus Buy rating on the company, backed by a mean price target of $207.16 across 12 analyst opinions.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca PLC is a global biopharmaceutical firm based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and selling prescription medicines across major therapeutic areas like oncology, rare diseases, and biopharmaceuticals.

Bottom Line

Ninety One SA's complete exit from AstraZeneca highlights how individual managers reallocate portfolios between filing periods. Observers will watch the company's upcoming earnings report on October 30, 2026, for fresh financial details. Remember that 13F data is historical and only tells part of the story regarding institutional appetite. Keep in mind that 13F filings are backward-looking: they show holdings as of the end of the reporting quarter and may not represent the fund's current position.