Savant Capital LLC Grows Stock Position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Savant Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 8.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,520 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 739 shares during the quarter. Savant Capital LLC’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $2,761,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of APD. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC grew its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. Legacy Financial Strategies LLC now owns 9,882 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,800,000 after buying an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 15.4% in the fourth quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 24,054 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $6,977,000 after acquiring an additional 3,210 shares during the last quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. increased its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Richard C. Young & CO. LTD. now owns 51,156 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $14,837,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC now owns 16,929 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,910,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 87.7% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 10,637 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,066,000 after purchasing an additional 4,970 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company’s stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Performance

NYSE APD opened at $310.35 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $308.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $302.60. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a market cap of $69.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.85. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52-week low of $216.30 and a 52-week high of $341.14.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.13 by ($0.27). Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 15.78%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This is a boost from Air Products and Chemicals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.11%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on APD shares. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com cut Air Products and Chemicals from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Citigroup raised their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $345.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upped 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. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $320.00 price objective (down previously from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a report on Friday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $339.94.

Insider Transactions at Air Products and Chemicals

In other Air Products and Chemicals news, VP Sean D. Major sold 4,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.46, for a total value of $1,419,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 14,273 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,502,560.58. This represents a 23.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Melissa N. Schaeffer sold 3,233 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $307.32, for a total value of $993,565.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,680 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,282,177.60. This trade represents a 23.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 9,749 shares of company stock worth $3,030,032. Company insiders own 0.41% of the company’s stock.

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.