American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Shares Cross Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Here's Why

Key Points

• American Vanguard Corporation's stock surpassed its 200-day moving average during trading, reaching a high of $5.46 before closing at $5.15.
• Analyst ratings for American Vanguard vary, with Lake Street Capital reducing their target price to $12.00 and maintaining a "buy" rating, while Wall Street Zen downgraded the stock from "buy" to "hold."
• Institutional investors own 79% of American Vanguard's shares, with significant increases in holdings reported by firms like Ameriprise Financial and Bank of America.

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $4.38 and traded as high as $5.46. American Vanguard shares last traded at $5.15, with a volume of 124,049 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVD has been the subject of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of American Vanguard from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, August 10th. Lake Street Capital reduced their price target on shares of American Vanguard from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $12.00.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.91. The stock has a market cap of $153.78 million, a P/E ratio of -1.21 and a beta of 1.26. The firm's 50 day moving average is $4.30 and its 200 day moving average is $4.37.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported ($0.03) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.11) by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $129.31 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $130.00 million. American Vanguard had a negative net margin of 23.72% and a negative return on equity of 26.21%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in American Vanguard by 27.2% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 163,251 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $756,000 after purchasing an additional 34,943 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC acquired a new position in American Vanguard during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Two Sigma Investments LP increased its stake in American Vanguard by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 200,443 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $928,000 after purchasing an additional 13,347 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in American Vanguard by 232.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 73,149 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $339,000 after purchasing an additional 51,174 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC acquired a new position in American Vanguard during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,666,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.00% of the company's stock.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets specialty chemicals for agricultural, commercial, and consumer uses in the United States and internationally. It manufactures and formulates chemicals, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, soil health, plant nutrition, molluscicides, growth regulators, soil fumigants, and biorationals in liquid, powder, and granular forms for crops, turf and ornamental plants, and human and animal health protection.