Diversify Advisory Services LLC Makes New Investment in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. $APD

Key Points

• Diversify Advisory Services purchased 27,976 shares of Air Products and Chemicals worth approximately $8.2 million in the second quarter. Institutional investors collectively own 81.66% of the company, with several major funds also initiating or expanding positions.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with the stock carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $332.76 versus its recent price of $303.53.
• Air Products exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $3.47 compared with the $3.34 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 4.6% year over year to $3.16 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.81 per share, representing a 2.4% annualized yield.

Diversify Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 27,976 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $8,185,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,370,093,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the fourth quarter worth $1,063,906,000. Capital International Investors increased its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 44.2% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 12,792,580 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,160,023,000 after acquiring an additional 3,922,567 shares during the period. Viking Global Investors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the second quarter worth $607,601,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the second quarter valued at $495,201,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on APD. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $373.00 target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Friday, July 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a $320.00 price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $315.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $360.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $320.00 price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Air Products and Chemicals currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $332.76.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Up 0.9%

Air Products and Chemicals stock opened at $303.53 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $67.59 billion, a PE ratio of -1,379.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The stock's fifty day moving average is $294.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $290.12. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 1-year low of $229.11 and a 1-year high of $314.87.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $3.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.34 by $0.13. Air Products and Chemicals had a positive return on equity of 16.87% and a negative net margin of 0.38%.The business had revenue of $3.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.09 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Air Products and Chemicals has set its FY 2026 guidance at 13.390-13.490 EPS and its Q4 2026 guidance at 3.550-3.650 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 13.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be paid a $1.81 dividend. This represents a $7.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is currently -3,290.91%.

Air Products and Chemicals Profile

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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