Virtu Financial LLC Has $800,000 Stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Key Points

• Virtu Financial LLC reduced its stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. by 64.3%, holding 2,714 shares valued at approximately $800,000 as of the end of the most recent quarter.
• A quarterly dividend of $1.79 per share has been announced, with an annualized dividend of $7.16, representing a yield of 2.5% and a payout ratio of 103.02%.
• Air Products and Chemicals reported a Q2 EPS of $3.09, exceeding estimates, along with a revenue of $3.02 billion, marking a 1.2% increase compared to the previous year.

Virtu Financial LLC cut its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 64.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,714 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 4,887 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $800,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 833.3% in the first quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 112 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. lifted its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 525.9% in the fourth quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 169 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $50,000. 81.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Victoria Brifo sold 1,359 shares of Air Products and Chemicals 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 transaction, the vice president owned 8,686 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,539,612.68. This trade represents a 13.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

Air Products and Chemicals stock traded down $1.64 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $290.53. 1,033,289 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,318,363. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $287.41 and a 200-day simple moving average of $288.65. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $243.69 and a 12 month high of $341.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The firm has a market cap of $64.66 billion, a PE ratio of 41.80, a PEG ratio of 6.57 and a beta of 0.81.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported $3.09 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 firm had revenue of $3.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.95 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $3.20 EPS. The company's revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect 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 firm 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. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.5%. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Air Products and Chemicals from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Citigroup increased their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, June 30th. Mizuho increased their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $310.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Friday, June 13th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $355.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $355.00 to $325.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $335.07.

About Air Products and Chemicals

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.