American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• American Vanguard has been upgraded from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating by analysts at Wall Street Zen.
• Lake Street Capital has reduced its price target on American Vanguard from $14.00 to $12.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating on the stock.
• The company reported quarterly earnings with $129.31 million in revenue, surpassing expectations, despite a negative return on equity of 25.41%.

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Saturday.

Separately, Lake Street Capital decreased their price objective on American Vanguard from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 9th.

American Vanguard Trading Up 6.4%

Shares of American Vanguard stock traded up $0.28 during trading on Friday, reaching $4.63. 190,984 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 236,068. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. American Vanguard has a twelve month low of $3.28 and a twelve month high of $8.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $4.05 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.03 and a beta of 1.23.

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 23.2% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 64,072 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $297,000 after purchasing an additional 12,057 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in American Vanguard by 70.6% in the fourth quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 31,360 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 12,975 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in shares of American Vanguard by 26.0% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 376,626 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,744,000 after purchasing an additional 77,728 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in American Vanguard during the fourth quarter worth approximately $107,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in American Vanguard by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,498,061 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $6,936,000 after buying an additional 29,713 shares in the last quarter. 79.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.