Royal London Asset Management Ltd. Lowers Stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. $APD

Key Points

• Royal London Asset Management cut its Air Products and Chemicals stake by 16.6% in the second quarter, selling 6,657 shares and retaining 33,345 shares valued at approximately $9.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 81.66% of APD.
• APD shares were trading at $309.86, near their 52-week high, after the company reported quarterly EPS of $3.47—above estimates—while revenue rose 4.6% year over year to $3.16 billion.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.81 per share, equivalent to $7.24 annually and a 2.3% yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $332.76.

Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lessened its stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 16.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 33,345 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 6,657 shares during the period. Royal London Asset Management Ltd.'s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $9,716,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the second quarter valued at approximately $5,370,093,000. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 44.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 12,792,580 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,160,023,000 after purchasing an additional 3,922,567 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 11,904,537 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $2,940,665,000 after purchasing an additional 137,595 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,911,504 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $2,448,340,000 after purchasing an additional 352,012 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dodge & Cox raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 9,236,610 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $2,281,627,000 after purchasing an additional 231,718 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE APD opened at $309.86 on Tuesday. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 1-year low of $229.11 and a 1-year high of $314.87. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $298.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $291.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.00 billion, a P/E ratio of -1,408.45, a price-to-earnings-growth 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.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $3.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.34 by $0.13. Air Products and Chemicals had a negative net margin of 0.38% and a positive return on equity of 16.87%. The business had revenue of $3.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.09 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. 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. Equities research 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 firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $1.81 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. This represents a $7.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is presently -3,290.91%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on APD. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $373.00 price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley set a $320.00 price objective on Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $358.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $330.00 to $336.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $332.76.

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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