HUB Investment Partners LLC Buys New Shares in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

HUB Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,531 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $444,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the third quarter worth $25,000. Generali Investments Management Co LLC acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 43 shares during the last quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 81.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Wilbur Mok sold 1,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.88, for a total transaction of $410,644.00. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Walter L. Nelson sold 589 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.50, for a total value of $181,706.50. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 719 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $221,811.50. The trade was a 45.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 15,500 shares of company stock worth $4,842,604 over the last quarter. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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Air Products and Chemicals Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of APD traded up $1.88 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $295.04. The stock had a trading volume of 788,943 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,410,210. The company has a market cap of $65.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.13, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.85. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52 week low of $227.53 and a 52 week high of $341.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $312.75 and a 200 day moving average of $309.01.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly 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 return on equity of 15.78% and a net margin of 31.88%. On average, sell-side analysts expect 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 business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a $1.79 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.43%. This is a positive change from Air Products and Chemicals's previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. Air Products and Chemicals's payout ratio is presently 41.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently commented on APD shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $395.00 to $370.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $320.00 target price (down from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Citigroup dropped their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $373.00 to $345.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America cut 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $341.47.

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.