RBC Reaffirms AstraZeneca's Outperform Rating Ahead of Q3 Results

12:05 PM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- RBC Capital Markets reiterated its outperform rating on AstraZeneca (AZN.L, AZN.ST), with a price target of 145 pounds sterling, expecting the pharmaceutical group to report a sequential increase in revenue when it releases its third-quarter results on Oct. 30. The research firm forecasts the drugmaker's total revenue in the quarter will reach $16.25 billion, against $15.38 billion in the prior three-month period and the Visible Alpha consensus of $15.97 billion, according to a Thursday note. "We are modestly ahead of consensus on revenue (+1.8%) and in-line on the bottom-line (+0.8%). We expect Oncology strength (+1.7%), led by Tagrisso (+3%), to be partially offset by Farxiga erosion post-LOE (-4% vs. cons.) and Lynparza weakness (-9% vs. cons.). We expect a quiet quarter with no major surprises, and are looking for mgmt to reiterate full-year guidance (MSD-HSD revenue growth, LDD EPS growth)," analysts said. RBC also continues to see the Avanzar study assessing Datroway combined with Imfinzi in first-line non-small cell lung cancer as the "clearing event" for the remainder of 2026. Other upcoming potential catalysts include the Iris trial evaluating Saphnelo in lupus nephritis and the Zenith study assessing zibotentan/dapagliflozin in chronic kidney disease and high proteinuria in the first half of 2027.