GAM Holding AG Buys New Shares in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

GAM Holding AG bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 3,583 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $1,039,000.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 69.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 105 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 88.7% during 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 period. 81.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Air Products and Chemicals Trading Down 1.4 %

APD stock traded down $4.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $310.02. 1,392,858 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,750,034. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $308.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $304.26. 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 market cap of $68.97 billion, a PE ratio of 18.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.85. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a one year low of $227.10 and a one year high of $341.14.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $2.86 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.13 by ($0.27). Air Products and Chemicals had a return on equity of 15.78% and a net margin of 31.88%. Research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $320.00 price target (down from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Redburn Atlantic raised Air Products and Chemicals from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $330.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. BNP Paribas raised Air Products and Chemicals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. UBS Group upped their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $375.00 to $385.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $339.94.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Kurt Lefevere sold 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $316.17, for a total value of $474,255.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,462 shares in the company, valued at $462,240.54. The trade was a 50.64 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Francesco Maione sold 2,016 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $306.00, for a total value of $616,896.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,834 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,173,204. This trade represents a 34.46 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 14,911 shares of company stock worth $4,660,897 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

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.