After rising by over 20% since November, the AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) share price is on run. And now administration has simply signed a $1bn deal to amass EsoBiotec and additional safe its long-term most cancers remedy product portfolio. So, with the pharma big making waves, traders are naturally starting to ask, how a lot larger can this inventory climb over the following 12 months?

Let’s dig into the newest forecasts.

Delivering outcomes

Whereas the acquisition of EsoBiotec is main the headlines, the deal itself isn’t more likely to generate a return for traders for some time. In spite of everything, EsoBiotec remains to be in its early days with merchandise nonetheless present process medical trials, which may take years.

As a substitute, this takeover is extra about positioning AstraZeneca for the long term. Within the meantime, its present portfolio of merchandise will proceed to drive gross sales and earnings. And looking out on the newest outcomes, that’s precisely what they’re doing.

Whole income in 2024 jumped one other 21% to $54.1bn, with earnings per share having fun with a large 29% surge to $4.54 in fixed forex phrases. That’s a very encouraging consequence contemplating the troubles AstraZeneca has been having in certainly one of its foremost progress markets – China. As a fast reminder, just a few months in the past, one of many agency’s high executives was arrested for suspected fraud and unlawful drug imports.

Progress in its medical trials has additionally been fairly encouraging. 9 phase-three trials had been profitable in 2024, with seven trials on observe for completion in 2025. Past delivering beneficial outcomes and paving the way in which to new income streams, it additionally offers traders with extra readability over the standard of AstraZeneca’s pipeline of recent medicine and coverings.

High quality comes at a price

Given the continued streak of success AstraZeneca has delivered lately, it’s not shocking traders are prepared to pay a premium. Much more so given the encouraging steerage for 2025, signalling extra progress is across the nook.

Nonetheless, at a ahead price-to-earnings ratio of 17.4, the shares are removed from low cost. For reference, GSK shares are at present buying and selling near 9 occasions ahead earnings, whereas Hikma Prescribed drugs is nearer to 11.6. However, forecasts for AstraZeneca stay fairly bullish.

Of the 27 institutional analysts following this enterprise, 23 at present fee it as a Purchase or Outperform with a mean 12-month share price goal of 14,100p. In comparison with right now’s valuation, that’s roughly an 18% potential acquire by March 2026.

But as with all forecasts, this projection depends upon AstraZeneca delivering on expectations with no sudden disruptions, equivalent to a failure in certainly one of its ongoing medical trials. Given the associated fee related to drug improvement, any failures might have a big influence on the agency’s anticipated future earnings. And with the shares priced at a premium, that naturally invitations volatility.

Personally, I really feel the chance could also be well worth the potential reward. My portfolio already has enough publicity to the healthcare trade, so I’m not speeding to purchase any shares. Nonetheless, for traders looking for to capitalise on biotech tailwinds, this enterprise could also be price contemplating.