How does AstraZeneca's cost control compare between 2023 and 2024?

AstraZeneca's cost control appears to have improved slightly between 2023 and 2024, as evidenced by the increase in operating margin and gross margin during the same period. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Operating Margin Improvement**: The operating margin for AstraZeneca increased from 15.09% in 2023 to 16.12% in 2024. This indicates a better control over operating expenses relative to revenue.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Gross Profit Margin|Operating Profit Margin|Net Profit Margin|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2023 Q1|82.4892|20.79235223825719|16.5824|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2023 Q2|82.6643|19.515586454361962|16.2548|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2023 Q3|82.3601|17.799745464231805|14.8045|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2023 Q4|81.9519|15.085896400427846|13.0122|185|

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Gross Profit Margin|Operating Profit Margin|Net Profit Margin|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2024 Q1|82.5065|22.18629229434498|17.1938|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2024 Q2|82.82|20.3614787055471|16.0362|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2024 Q3|80.9045|17.9878515644939|14.1417|185|
|AZN|AZN.O|Astrazeneca|2024 Q4|81.1237|16.124498363323656|13.0213|185|

2. **Gross Margin Stability**: The gross margin remained stable at around 81.95% in 2023 and 81.12% in 2024. This suggests that the company's cost control efforts are focused on improving operating efficiency rather than reducing production costs.
3. **Net Margin Slight Increase**: There was a slight increase in net margin from 13.01% in 2023 to 13.02% in 2024. This implies that after accounting for all expenses, including taxes and interest, AstraZeneca is able to retain a slightly higher portion of revenue as profit.

In conclusion, AstraZeneca's cost control measures seem to be effective, as reflected by the improvements in operating margin and net margin, with gross margin remaining stable. This indicates a healthier financial management and a trend towards increased profitability.