Park Avenue Securities LLC Increases Holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 29.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,027 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 2,704 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $3,488,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 88.7% in the 3rd quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 117 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 58.8% during the 4th quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 135 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the third quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, Reston Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 3rd quarter valued at about $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company’s stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Trading Up 1.7 %

NYSE APD opened at $312.01 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $309.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of $293.48. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $212.24 and a 52 week high of $337.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Air Products and Chemicals Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $1.77 per share. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 2nd. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.21%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on APD. UBS Group raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $375.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, November 18th. Barclays increased their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $295.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $330.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup lifted their target price on 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. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $308.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $332.71.

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.