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

Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 2,025.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 79,886 shares of the basic materials company's stock after purchasing an additional 76,127 shares during the period. Air Products and Chemicals accounts for about 0.9% of Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th largest holding. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC's holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $23,170,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,074 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $888,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Stockton grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.9% in the third quarter. Bank of Stockton now owns 1,813 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $540,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Financial Perspectives Inc grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 33.3% in the fourth quarter. Financial Perspectives Inc now owns 140 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 22.3% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 203 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chesapeake Wealth Management grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.7% in the third quarter. Chesapeake Wealth Management now owns 2,189 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $652,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Air Products and Chemicals

In other news, insider Wilbur Mok sold 1,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.88, for a total transaction of $410,644.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,193 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,008,604.84. This represents a 28.93 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Francesco Maione sold 2,016 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $306.00, for a total transaction of $616,896.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,834 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,173,204. The trade was a 34.46 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 14,911 shares of company stock valued at $4,660,897. 0.41% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE APD traded down $4.63 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $309.65. The stock had a trading volume of 704,907 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,727,715. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.11. The company has a 50 day moving average of $308.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $304.26. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $227.10 and a twelve month high of $341.14. The firm has a market cap of $68.89 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a PEG ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.85.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $2.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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%. Research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be issued a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.31%. This is a positive change from Air Products and Chemicals's previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio is presently 41.11%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on APD. StockNews.com lowered Air Products and Chemicals from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $320.00 price target (down previously from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research report on Friday, February 7th. BNP Paribas upgraded Air Products and Chemicals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Bank of America lowered Air Products and Chemicals from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $350.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Citigroup boosted 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $339.94.

About Air Products and Chemicals

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.