Intellus Advisors LLC Acquires Stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Intellus Advisors LLC has recently acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, as reported in their latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The investment firm purchased 40,975 shares of the company’s stock, amounting to an approximate value of $11,884,000. This acquisition means that Air Products and Chemicals now constitutes 2.1% of Intellus Advisors LLC's investment portfolio, ranking it as the firm's 18th largest holding.

A number of other hedge funds and institutional investors have also entered the market for Air Products and Chemicals. For instance, Truvestments Capital LLC made a new purchase during the third quarter, investing about $25,000 in the stock. Generali Investments Management Co LLC followed suit in the fourth quarter with a stake worth around $26,000. Additionally, Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in the firm by 69.4% in the same quarter, bringing its total to 105 shares valued at $30,000 after acquiring 43 more shares. Similarly, Sierra Ocean LLC and Financial Life Planners invested around $30,000 and $31,000, respectively, during the fourth quarter as well. Currently, 81.66% of the stock is owned by various hedge funds and institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently updated their ratings for Air Products and Chemicals. BMO Capital Markets downgraded the company's status from "outperform" to "market perform" in a report dated February 7th. In contrast, Sanford C. Bernstein raised the company's rating from "market perform" to "outperform" with a target price of $375.00 on January 31st. Additionally, StockNews.com downgraded the stock from a "hold" to a "sell" on February 7th. Bank of America also downgraded the firm from a "buy" to a "neutral" rating, setting a target at $350. JPMorgan Chase & Co. maintained a "neutral" rating but adjusted their target price down from $345 to $320. Overall, one research analyst has issued a sell rating, while six have given it a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating, and one has categorized it as a strong buy. As per MarketBeat data, Air Products and Chemicals currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a price target of $342.65.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Performance

As of Friday, shares of APD opened at $291.35. The company boasts a market capitalization of $64.82 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.92 and a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 3.07. Its beta stands at 0.85, indicating lower volatility compared to the market. Over the past year, the stock reached a low of $227.53 and a high of $341.14. Currently, the 50-day moving average price is $313.19, while the 200-day moving average price is $308.22. Financial metrics indicate a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.11, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

In the most recent quarterly earnings report released on February 6th, Air Products and Chemicals reported earnings of $2.86 per share (EPS), which fell short of the consensus estimate of $3.13 by $0.27. The company's net margin is 31.88%, with a return on equity of 15.78%. Analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will report an EPS of 12.69 for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

Recently, Air Products and Chemicals announced an upcoming quarterly dividend to be paid out on May 12th. Shareholders on record as of April 1st will receive $1.79 per share, an increase from the previous $1.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date is set for April 1st. This dividend reflects an annual rate of $7.16, yielding 2.46%, with a payout ratio of 41.58%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Vice President Sean D. Major sold 4,500 shares of the company’s stock on February 7th at an average price of $315.46, totaling $1,419,570. Following this sale, Major holds 14,273 shares valued at approximately $4,502,560.57, representing a 23.97% reduction in their holdings. Furthermore, insider Kurt Lefevere sold 1,500 shares on February 20th at an average price of $316.17, amounting to $474,255. After this transaction, Lefevere has 1,462 shares valued at $462,240.54, marking a 50.64% decrease in their position. Over the past 90 days, insiders have sold 15,500 shares collectively valued at $4,842,604, and currently, company insiders own 0.41% of the total stock.

About Air Products and Chemicals

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is a global supplier of atmospheric, process, and specialty gases, along with equipment and related services across various sectors including Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The company’s product offerings include atmospheric gases like oxygen, nitrogen, and argon; process gases including hydrogen and helium; and specialty gases tailored for industries such as refining, manufacturing, electronics, energy, medicine, food, and metals.

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