Reviewing Business Updates Of Three FTSE 100 Stocks- GLEN, AZN and GSK

Glencore Plc

Glencore Plc (LON:GLEN) is a Switzerland domiciled leading diversified natural resource companies. Headquartered in Baar, the company was incorporated in 1974 as a trading company and focused on the marketing of crude oil, oil products, ferrous and non-ferrous metals and minerals. Now the company is engaged in production and marketing of more than 90 commodities. The company currently has offices in more than 50 countries and has an employee base of 158,000 including contractors. The company operates around 150 assets, including agricultural facilities, oil production assets, mining and metallurgical sites. The group, using its sector knowledge and global supply base, is engaged in the business of production and distribution of minerals and metals, crude oil and oil products, coal and agricultural products. The company is one of the largest companies in the world and was ranked 14^th in the fortune 500 list of world’s largest companies in the year 2018.

The company’s largest shareholder is the Qatar Investment Authority, the investment arm of the Qatar Government, with its shares are duel listed on the London stock exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The shares of the company trade on the London Stock Exchange with the ticker name GLEN and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.

Trading Update

The company on 05 December 2019 came out with an update on the investigation initiated by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on the conduct of the company.

The investigation is related to the charges of bribery. This relates to the allegation that the company bribed officials of the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure mining leases in that country.

The company in the update has also stated that it will cooperate in the investigations.

Stock Performance at the London Stock Exchange

At the time of writing of this report on 17 December 2019 the shares of the company were trading on the London Stock Exchange for GBX 233.65.

The shares of the company during the past 52 weeks of trading at the London Stock Exchange have registered a 52-week high of GBX 343.90 while also registering a 52-week low of GBX 212.10. The company has a market capitalisation of £31.09 billion on the London Stock Exchange at the time of writing this report on 17 December 2019.

The average of the stock’s traded volume as on the above date and time stood at 7,358,966 and the stock's average traded volume for 5 days was 37,086,001.20; 30 days- 31,248,867.97 and 90 days – 34,544,660.37 and the beta of the stock of the company on the date was 2.01, which, compared to the benchmark index, reflected a higher volatility and the stock’s traded volumes on the London Stock Exchange on an average for 5 days was up by +18.68 % as compared to the 30 days’ average traded volume and in last one month, the shares have generated a return of -4.21 % and also a return of -19.91 % return on year to date basis.

Outlook

The charges levied against the company are serious, and the stocks of the company have been underperforming ever since the news broke. Should the company be found guilty, a heavy fine may be levied on the company which could have a material impact on the profitability of the company.

AstraZeneca Plc

AstraZeneca Plc (LON:AZN) is a Cambridge, United Kingdom-headquartered international, science-led biopharmaceutical company. The group focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercialising prescription medicines and has operations all over the world with business in over 100 countries, with its medicines being consumed by millions of patients across the globe. Though the company selectively pursues therapies in autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection, its three focus areas are Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease (CVMD) and Respiratory. Its teams work alongside the world’s leading academic and biotech research institutions and have a clinical collaboration with Immunomedics. The company’s geographic segments are grouped as the UK, Continental Europe, the Americas, and Asia, Africa & Australasia.

The shares of the company have their listing on the main market segment of the London Stock Exchange. There they trade with the ticker name AZN. The shares of the company also form part of the FTSE 100 index.

Trading Update

The company on 16 December 2019 came out with a trading update on the divestment of two of its formulations to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH.

• The divestment is of commercial rights of formulations - Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate immediate release) and Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended release) in Russia and Europe.
• The consideration received by the company for this divestment is $178 million upfront and $61 million in future payments which are contingent to sales.

Stock Performance at the London Stock Exchange

At the time of writing of this report on 17 December 2019 the shares of the company were trading on the London Stock Exchange for GBX 7,445.00.

The shares of the company during the past 52 weeks of trading at the London Stock Exchange have registered a 52-week high of GBX 8,227.88 while also registering a 52-week low of GBX 5,312.00. The company has a market capitalisation of £97 billion on the London Stock Exchange at the time of writing this report on 17 December 2019.

The average of the stock’s traded volume as on the above date and time stood at 566,069 and the stock's average traded volume for 5 days was 1,825,914.40; 30 days- 1,566,666.67 and 90 days – 1,731,697.39 and the beta of the stock of the company on the date was 0.77, which compared to the benchmark index reflected a lower volatility and the stock’s trading volumes on the London Stock Exchange on an average for 5 days was up by   +16.55 % as compared to the 30 days’ average traded volume and in last one month, the shares have generated a positive return of +2.01 % and also a return of +25.90 % return on year to date basis.

Outlook

The book value of these assets with the company prior to the divestment was nil, and the attributable profits from the asset from the relevant territories was $86 million.

Glaxo SmithKline Plc

Glaxo SmithKline Plc (LON:GSK) is a United Kingdom based global pharmaceutical major. The company's portfolio of products includes prescription therapeutics, medicines and vaccines. Its prescription medications range across therapeutic value chain including medications for anti-infective, dermatological conditions, gynaecology, diabetes mutatis, cardiovascular disorders and respiratory ailments. The company also provides a large number of vaccines for a range of diseases namely, for the prevention of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, invasive ailments as a result of Hemophilus influenza, chickenpox, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, rotavirus, cervical cancer and streptococcus pneumonia among others.

The company’s shares are primarily listed on the London Stock Exchange where they trade with the ticker name GSK. The company’s shares also have a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange where they trade with the ticker name GSK as well. The company’s shares are constituents of the FTSE 100 index.

Trading Update

The company on 5 December 2019 came out with a trading update on the application made by its subsidiary company ViiV Healthcare to US FDA for its drug fostemsavir.

The drug is a treatment of HIV-1 infection with properties that help patients where other drugs have been proven to be ineffective.

Stock Performance at the London Stock Exchange

At the time of writing of this report on 17 December 2019 the shares of the company were trading on the London Stock Exchange for GBX 1,768.00.

The shares of the company during the past 52 weeks of trading at the London Stock Exchange have registered a 52-week high of GBX 1,796.40 while also registering a 52-week low of GBX 1,429.80. The company has a market capitalisation of £88.02 billion on the London Stock Exchange at the time of writing this report on 17 December 2019.

The average of stock’s traded volume as on the above date and time stood at 2,780,188 and the stock's average traded volume for 5 days was 7,968,400.20; 30 days- 6,522,784.77 and 90 days – 6,760,931.89 and the beta of the stock of the company on the date was 0.88, which compared to the benchmark index reflected a lower volatility and the stocks trading volumes on the London Stock Exchange on an average for 5 days was up by +22.16 % as compared to the 30 days’ average traded volume and in last one month, the shares have generated a positive return of +3.79 % and also a return of +18.31 % return on year to date basis.

Outlook

The formulation works in heavily drug-resistant patients where other HIV suppression drugs have become ineffective. This formulation has the potential to help a major part of the patient population and has a wide market with potential to be a major value creator for the company.