American Vanguard Corporation $AVD Shares Sold by Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.

Key Points

• Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in American Vanguard Corporation by 53.4%, selling 76,246 shares in the first quarter, leaving it with 66,623 shares valued at approximately $293,000.
• During the fourth quarter, several hedge funds increased their investments in American Vanguard, with Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC leading with a 264.8% increase in holdings.
• American Vanguard's stock price has fluctuated between a 12-month low of $3.28 and a high of $6.68, opening at $5.41 recently, while analysts have set a consensus target price of $12.00.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD - Free Report) by 53.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 66,623 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 76,246 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned 0.23% of American Vanguard worth $293,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Federated Hermes Inc. bought a new position in American Vanguard in the 1st quarter worth about $283,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its stake in American Vanguard by 27.2% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 130,339 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $573,000 after acquiring an additional 27,896 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its stake in American Vanguard by 134.7% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 9,425 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 5,410 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC bought a new position in American Vanguard in the 1st quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, Pullen Investment Management LLC grew its stake in American Vanguard by 36.4% in the 1st quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 243,143 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,070,000 after acquiring an additional 64,901 shares in the last quarter. 79.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Vanguard Stock Down 6.0%

NYSE:AVD traded down $0.34 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $5.38. 215,022 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 184,327. American Vanguard Corporation has a 12-month low of $3.28 and a 12-month high of $6.68. The business has a 50-day moving average of $4.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $4.38. 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 capitalization of $152.84 million, a PE ratio of -1.20 and a beta of 1.26.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

American Vanguard Company Profile

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.