Loop Capital Increases American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Price Target to $20.00

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD - Free Report) had its price target boosted by Loop Capital from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a buy rating on the basic materials company's stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on AVD. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of American Vanguard in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Vanguard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 18th. Finally, Roth Mkm upped their price objective on shares of American Vanguard from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $18.00.

American Vanguard Stock Down 0.7 %

AVD traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $11.61. The company had a trading volume of 167,224 shares, compared to its average volume of 209,037. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $11.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.63. American Vanguard has a 52 week low of $8.41 and a 52 week high of $21.60. The company has a market capitalization of $334.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.19 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 14th. The basic materials company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.25. American Vanguard had a return on equity of 2.05% and a net margin of 1.30%. The firm had revenue of $172.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $172.70 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that American Vanguard will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Vanguard Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 27th were issued a $0.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 26th. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.03%. American Vanguard's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.45%.

Institutional Trading of American Vanguard

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AVD. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in American Vanguard during the third quarter valued at about $2,370,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 29.3% during the 3rd quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 338,637 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $3,701,000 after purchasing an additional 76,782 shares during the period. Aigen Investment Management LP purchased a new position in American Vanguard during the third quarter valued at approximately $324,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of American Vanguard by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,612,006 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $17,619,000 after purchasing an additional 163,941 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schroder Investment Management Group raised its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 89.6% in the 3rd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 539,875 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $5,901,000 after acquiring an additional 255,190 shares in the last quarter. 79.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.