3,998 Shares in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. $APD Acquired by Christine Messmer PC

Key Points

• Christine Messmer PC opened a new position in Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD), acquiring 3,998 shares worth about $988,000 during the fourth quarter.
• Air Products beat the quarter's estimates with $3.20 EPS versus $3.06 expected and revenue of $3.17 billion (up 8.8% YoY), and set FY2026 guidance of $13.00–13.25 EPS and Q3 guidance of 3.25–3.35 EPS.
• Insiders sold material stakes recently — Director Ridge LP Mantle sold 70,175 shares for roughly $19.94 million (a 42.87% drop in their holdings) and the CFO sold 2,714 shares for about $824k — while insiders own 1.88% and institutions own 81.66% of the stock.

Christine Messmer PC acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 3,998 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $988,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,304,678 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $5,509,702,000 after buying an additional 303,944 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 2.4% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 11,766,942 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,209,068,000 after buying an additional 272,197 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.1% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,559,492 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,607,065,000 after buying an additional 106,578 shares during the last quarter. Dodge & Cox increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 2.1% in the third quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 9,004,892 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,455,814,000 after buying an additional 183,492 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital International Investors increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 7.4% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,870,013 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,419,029,000 after buying an additional 609,489 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Air Products and Chemicals

In other news, Director Ridge Lp Mantle sold 70,175 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $284.21, for a total value of $19,944,436.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 93,499 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $26,573,350.79. This represents a 42.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Melissa N. Schaeffer sold 2,714 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $303.76, for a total value of $824,404.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 14,212 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,317,037.12. This represents a 16.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.88% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Air Products and Chemicals Trading Down 0.9%

Shares of APD stock opened at $298.29 on Tuesday. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $229.11 and a 12 month high of $307.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. The business's 50 day moving average is $288.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $269.07. The company has a market cap of $66.42 billion, a PE ratio of 31.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.77.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $3.20 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.06 by $0.14. Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 16.11% and a net margin of 16.91%.The company had revenue of $3.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.07 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.69 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Air Products and Chemicals has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.000-13.250 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 3.250-3.350 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 13.11 EPS for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 1st will be given a $1.81 dividend. This represents a $7.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is currently -479.47%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

APD has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $325.00 to $338.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, April 24th. UBS Group increased their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $307.00 to $316.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $315.00 price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Monday. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $315.00 price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $280.00 to $303.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $321.76.

About Air Products and Chemicals

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc is a global supplier of industrial gases and related equipment and services, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The company produces and delivers atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and argon, as well as specialty and process gases used across a wide range of industrial applications. Air Products designs, builds and operates gas production facilities, merchant distribution networks and on-site gas systems for customers that require reliable, high-purity gases and integrated supply solutions.

The company's product and service portfolio includes packaged and bulk gas supply, pipeline distribution, on-site generation, gas handling and storage equipment, and engineered systems for gas liquefaction and purification.

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