Invenomic Capital Management LP Reduces Holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Invenomic Capital Management LP decreased its position in shares of American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 9.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 792,181 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 84,527 shares during the quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP owned approximately 2.83% of American Vanguard worth $10,259,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in AVD. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 492.4% during the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,340 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares during the last quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of American Vanguard during the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 240.5% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,885 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 4,863 shares during the last quarter. Bfsg LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Vanguard during the fourth quarter worth about $98,000. Finally, Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of American Vanguard during the fourth quarter worth about $124,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.04% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Ulrich Trogele purchased 18,200 shares of American Vanguard stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 16th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $8.75 per share, for a total transaction of $159,250.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 209,876 shares in the company, valued at $1,836,415. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Ulrich Trogele bought 18,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $8.75 per share, with a total value of $159,250.00. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 209,876 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,836,415. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Steven D. Macicek acquired 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $9.01 per share, with a total value of $76,585.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 10,044 shares in the company, valued at $90,496.44. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 10.10% of the company’s stock.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

NYSE:AVD traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $9.34. The stock had a trading volume of 144,625 shares, compared to its average volume of 222,693. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a current ratio of 2.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $261.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.92 and a beta of 0.91. American Vanguard Co. has a twelve month low of $7.94 and a twelve month high of $18.22. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $8.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.31.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $135.14 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.20 million. American Vanguard had a net margin of 1.22% and a return on equity of 2.20%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.07 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that American Vanguard Co. will post 0.44 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, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 26th were given a dividend of $0.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 26th. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. American Vanguard’s payout ratio is 46.15%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVD has been the topic of a number of research reports. Loop Capital raised their price target on American Vanguard from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 15th. StockNews.com lowered American Vanguard from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Finally, Lake Street Capital initiated coverage on American Vanguard in a report on Monday, July 22nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Vanguard currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $16.67.

American Vanguard Company Profile

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.