AstraZeneca stock gains as Enhertu wins NHS approval and Wuxi investment supports growth

AstraZeneca stock (ISIN GB0009895292) is trading firmer on September 17, 2026, supported by fresh approval of its breast cancer drug Enhertu for routine use in England’s National Health Service and a new production investment in China, while recent half-year figures showed revenue up 6% and core EPS rising 11% in 2026.

Drug approval and China investment lift sentiment

As STAT reported on September 17, 2026, English health authorities agreed to provide Enhertu, a breast cancer drug from AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, through the National Health Service after a years-long dispute over pricing and cost effectiveness.

According to finanzen.ch on September 17, 2026, the earlier rejection was based on price concerns, but Enhertu has now received approval for routine use in the English NHS, marking a clear regulatory win for AstraZeneca’s oncology portfolio.

On the same day, AstraZeneca also underscored its manufacturing expansion in China. As Newsquawk highlighted on September 17, 2026, the company announced an investment of around CNY 200 million to boost production and supply capabilities in Wuxi, strengthening its footprint in a key growth market.

Reuters reported on September 17, 2026 that AstraZeneca shares rose around 1 percent after unveiling the nearly CNY 200 million investment to upgrade its production and supply base in Wuxi, indicating that investors view the capacity expansion as supportive for medium-term growth.

Q2FY26 figures show mid-single-digit growth and earnings leverage

Beyond the day’s catalysts, AstraZeneca’s latest reported numbers provide important context for the stock. According to ScanX News on September 17, 2026, AstraZeneca reported a 6 percent increase in total revenue to USD 14.1 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by demand for innovative medicines.

In the same half-year period, core earnings per share rose 11 percent, underscoring that profitability grew faster than revenue as the product mix shifted towards higher-margin therapies and cost discipline supported operating leverage, according to ScanX News.

For investors, the combination of 6 percent revenue growth in the first half of 2026 and 11 percent growth in core EPS suggests that AstraZeneca is translating its pipeline into earnings at an accelerating pace, while the Enhertu decision adds another commercial pillar in breast cancer with reimbursement clarity in England.

From a valuation perspective, AstraZeneca also retains a modest discount to an intrinsic value estimate referenced in recent analysis. As GuruFocus noted on September 17, 2026, a GF Value verdict of USD 182.16 implied that AstraZeneca shares were trading at roughly a 10.6 percent discount to that intrinsic value measure at the time of the analysis, reinforcing the view that the stock offers upside potential if execution on the pipeline continues.

Analyst stance and share-price reaction

Analyst opinion on AstraZeneca remains broadly constructive. According to MarketBeat on September 17, 2026, AstraZeneca Plc (NYSE: AZN) has received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from eighteen research firms, with one sell, three hold and fourteen buy ratings.

The same MarketBeat overview reported an average 12-month target price of USD 206.67 for AstraZeneca shares, which, relative to the USD 162.72 opening level cited in that report, implied upside of around 27 percent if the consensus targets are met.

Individual houses have also adjusted their views following recent volatility. As Proactive Investors reported on September 16, 2026, UBS cut its price target on AstraZeneca to 15,200 pence from 17,600 pence but maintained a buy rating, pointing to more than 25 percent upside from the 11,925 pence close on September 15, 2026.

In the same article, Proactive Investors noted that Jefferies kept its buy rating and a 17,500 pence target after a briefing with AstraZeneca’s head of global operations, signaling that some analysts see recent trial setbacks and merger speculation as overdone relative to the long-term fundamentals.

Short-term trading has reflected these mixed signals but remains supported by the latest regulatory and investment news. In London trading on September 17, 2026 at 12:28 local time, AstraZeneca shares were up 0.7 percent at 122.26 pounds, having traded as high as 122.94 pounds earlier in the session, according to finanzen.ch.

A morning snapshot from finanzen.ch on September 17, 2026 showed the stock at 122.85 pounds, up 1.2 percent, with a session high of 122.94 pounds and an opening level of 122.02 pounds, placing AstraZeneca among the gainers in the FTSE 100 at that point.

Stock price and trading data

For reference, AstraZeneca’s primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker AZN. As of September 17, 2026 in midday trading, the shares changed hands around 122.26 pounds in London, with intraday gains of roughly 0.7 percent versus the previous close, based on exchange data reported by finanzen.ch.

More news and analyses on AstraZeneca stock