Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) VP Victoria Brifo Sells 2,362 Shares

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) VP Victoria Brifo sold 2,362 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.82, for a total value of $745,966.84. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,172,411.90. The trade was a 19.04 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

Shares of APD stock opened at $313.97 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $69.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.85. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $226.95 and a fifty-two week high of $341.14. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $308.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $304.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by ($0.27). Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 15.78% and a net margin of 31.88%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given a $1.79 dividend. This is a positive change from Air Products and Chemicals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.11%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $320.00 price target (down previously from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Friday, February 7th. Redburn Atlantic raised Air Products and Chemicals from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $330.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $345.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $375.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $339.94.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Air Products and Chemicals

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 22.3% in the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 203 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 10,772 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,207,000 after purchasing an additional 52 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co. raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 6.5% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 5,352 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,593,000 after buying an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.4% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 5,713 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,701,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 8.4% during the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,219 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $959,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. 81.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.