Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Cuts Stock Holdings in American Vanguard Corporation $AVD

Key Points

• Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has reduced its stake in American Vanguard Corporation by 17.8% during the first quarter, now holding approximately 1.02% of the company worth about $1.27 million.
• Multiple hedge funds have also adjusted their positions in American Vanguard, with institutional investors currently owning 79.00% of the stock.
• American Vanguard's stock price opened at $5.38 as of Friday, experiencing a decline of 7.2% and has a consensus rating of "Buy" with a target price of $12.00.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trimmed its holdings in shares of American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD - Free Report) by 17.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 288,602 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 62,539 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. owned about 1.02% of American Vanguard worth $1,270,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in AVD. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in American Vanguard in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. CWM LLC raised 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 valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 5,410 shares during the period. Aigen Investment Management LP bought a new stake in American Vanguard in the 1st quarter valued at about $44,000. Cerity Partners LLC bought a new stake in American Vanguard in the 1st quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC raised its stake in American Vanguard by 46.5% in the 1st quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 17,154 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 5,448 shares during the period. 79.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded American Vanguard from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, September 5th. Lake Street Capital decreased their price target on American Vanguard from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, American Vanguard has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $12.00.

American Vanguard Trading Down 7.2%

NYSE AVD opened at $5.38 on Friday. American Vanguard Corporation has a 12 month low of $3.28 and a 12 month high of $6.68. The stock has a market cap of $152.96 million, a P/E ratio of -1.20 and a beta of 1.26. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $4.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82.

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

About American Vanguard

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.

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