Integrated Investment Consultants LLC Purchases Shares of 4,411 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Key Points

• Integrated Investment Consultants LLC has acquired 4,411 shares of Air Products and Chemicals, valued at approximately $1.3 million, marking a significant investment during the first quarter.
• Analysts have mixed outlooks, with Barclays lowering their target price from $355 to $325 while Wells Fargo raised it from $320 to $345, indicating differing views on the company's future performance.
• Air Products and Chemicals declared a quarterly dividend of $1.79 per share, set to be paid on November 10th, representing an annualized yield of 2.39%.

Integrated Investment Consultants LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 4,411 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $1,301,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the first quarter worth $25,000. Citizens National Bank Trust Department raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 833.3% in the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 112 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 525.9% during the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 169 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter worth $51,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the 4th quarter valued at $50,000. Institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE APD traded down $3.82 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $295.42. The stock had a trading volume of 661,932 shares, compared to its average volume of 934,368. The stock has a market cap of $65.74 billion, a PE ratio of 42.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.74 and a beta of 0.85. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 1 year low of $243.69 and a 1 year high of $341.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $283.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $290.70.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.83 by ($0.14). Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 12.76% and a return on equity of 15.48%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.85 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $1.79 per share. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's payout ratio is currently 104.07%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on APD. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $320.00 to $345.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Bank of America lowered Air Products and Chemicals from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $330.00 to $282.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $328.00 to $344.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Friday, June 13th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $355.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $334.75.

Air Products and Chemicals Company Profile

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment, and related services in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and internationally. The company produces atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases, such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and syngas; and specialty gases for customers in various industries, including refining, chemical, manufacturing, electronics, energy production, medical, food, and metals.