Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) Position Trimmed by Fruth Investment Management

Fruth Investment Management cut its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 20,987 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 270 shares during the period. Air Products and Chemicals comprises approximately 1.7% of Fruth Investment Management’s holdings, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Fruth Investment Management’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $6,087,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 69.4% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 105 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 88.7% in the third quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 117 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Newton One Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company’s stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:APD opened at $333.45 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.52. The company has a market capitalization of $74.15 billion, a PE ratio of 19.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $310.40 and a 200-day moving average of $300.43. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a one year low of $212.24 and a one year high of $341.14.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on APD shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $345.00 to $365.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $323.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Barclays upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their target price for the company from $315.00 to $365.00 in a research report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Bank of America lowered Air Products and Chemicals from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $350.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, January 27th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $340.50.

Air Products and Chemicals 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.