InvesTrust Sells 16,191 Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. $APD

Key Points

• InvesTrust has reduced its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 62% during the second quarter, now holding 9,935 shares valued at approximately $2.8 million.
• Analysts have raised their price targets for AIR Products, with Wells Fargo increasing theirs from $320 to $345 and Royal Bank Of Canada setting a target of $355, indicating a generally positive outlook on the stock.
• The company has declared a quarterly dividend of $1.79, representing an annualized payout of $7.16, with a dividend yield of 2.4% and a payout ratio of over 103%.

InvesTrust trimmed its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 62.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,935 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 16,191 shares during the period. InvesTrust's holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $2,802,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hamilton Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.5% in the first quarter. Hamilton Capital LLC now owns 2,594 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $765,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the period. West Branch Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 10.2% in the first quarter. West Branch Capital LLC now owns 421 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $124,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Kathmere Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 2.6% in the first quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 1,541 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $454,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.7% in the first quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,385 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $703,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the period. Finally, Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.6% in the first quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,499 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $737,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. 81.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

APD has been the subject of several recent research reports. Argus upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Thursday, May 29th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $290.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $320.00 to $345.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Mizuho raised their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Friday, June 13th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $355.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued 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 a consensus price target of $335.07.

Insider Activity at Air Products and Chemicals

In other news, VP Victoria Brifo sold 1,359 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $292.38, for a total value of $397,344.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 8,686 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,539,612.68. This represents a 13.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Down 0.5%

Shares of APD opened at $293.14 on Friday. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $243.69 and a 52 week high of $341.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $65.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.18, a PEG ratio of 6.57 and a beta of 0.82. 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 $291.89 and a 200-day moving average of $284.51.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $3.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.99 by $0.10. Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 15.11% and a net margin of 12.86%.The company had revenue of $3.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.95 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.20 EPS. Air Products and Chemicals's revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. 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. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be paid a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is presently 103.02%.

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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