Aurdan Capital Management LLC Makes New $4.49 Million Investment in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Aurdan Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 15,485 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $4,491,000. Air Products and Chemicals accounts for 1.7% of Aurdan Capital Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Perennial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $7,696,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 227.7% during the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 85,091 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $24,680,000 after acquiring an additional 59,123 shares in the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP increased its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 189.4% in the fourth quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 5,423 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,573,000 after acquiring an additional 3,549 shares during the period. North Star Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 49.2% in the fourth quarter. North Star Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,122 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $615,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parr Mcknight Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the 4th quarter valued at $294,000. 81.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Walter L. Nelson sold 589 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $308.50, for a total transaction of $181,706.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 719 shares in the company, valued at $221,811.50. The trade was a 45.03% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $373.00 to $345.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $365.00 to $320.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a research report on Thursday. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $290.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $335.00 to $324.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Air Products and Chemicals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $331.00.

Air Products and Chemicals Trading Up 1.7%

Shares of APD stock traded up $4.76 on Friday, hitting $277.93. The stock had a trading volume of 695,794 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,443,257. The firm has a market cap of $61.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.88. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $243.69 and a twelve month high of $341.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $272.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $297.77.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The basic materials company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.83 by ($0.14). Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 15.78%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.85 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be given a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is currently 104.07%.

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.