Hsbc Holdings PLC Cuts Holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. $APD

Key Points

• HSBC Holdings PLC has reduced its stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. by 13.2%, now owning approximately 0.21% of the company valued at $137.25 million following the sale of 71,116 shares.
• Air Products and Chemicals reported earnings of $3.09 per share for the last quarter, exceeding estimates, and had a revenue of $3.02 billion, up 1.2% from the previous year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.79 per share, representing a yield of 2.5%, with a payout ratio currently at 103.02%.

Hsbc Holdings PLC decreased its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 13.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 466,940 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 71,116 shares during the quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC owned approximately 0.21% of Air Products and Chemicals worth $137,253,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased 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 valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 525.9% in the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 169 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 3,560.0% in the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 183 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Victoria Brifo sold 1,359 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $292.38, for a total transaction of $397,344.42. Following the sale, the vice president owned 8,686 shares in the company, valued at $2,539,612.68. This trade represents a 13.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.41% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Performance

Air Products and Chemicals stock opened at $290.0110 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $287.95 and a two-hundred day moving average of $287.49. The company has a market capitalization of $64.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.73, a PEG ratio of 6.43 and a beta of 0.81. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $243.69 and a fifty-two week high of $341.14.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $3.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.99 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $3.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.95 billion. Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 15.11% and a net margin of 12.86%.Air Products and Chemicals's revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.20 earnings per share. Air Products and Chemicals has set its FY 2025 guidance at 11.900-12.100 EPS. Q4 2025 guidance at 3.270-3.470 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 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 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $1.79 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

APD has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $328.00 to $344.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Thursday, May 29th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $290.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup increased their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $320.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 30th. Wall Street Zen raised Air Products and Chemicals from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $320.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $335.07.

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.

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