Intellus Advisors LLC Makes New $11.88 Million Investment in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Intellus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 40,975 shares of the basic materials company's stock, valued at approximately $11,884,000. Air Products and Chemicals accounts for approximately 2.1% of Intellus Advisors LLC's holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 32,297 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $9,616,000 after acquiring an additional 1,177 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.3% during the third quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 2,992 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $891,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 39.6% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 6,700 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,995,000 after purchasing an additional 1,900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.3% during the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 308,329 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $91,802,000 after purchasing an additional 3,901 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company's stock.

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Air Products and Chemicals Stock Up 0.6 %

APD traded up $1.88 on Wednesday, hitting $295.04. The company had a trading volume of 788,953 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,411,463. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 52-week low of $227.53 and a 52-week high of $341.14. The firm has a market capitalization 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. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $312.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $309.01.

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 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%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $1.79 per share. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.43%. This is a boost 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 41.58%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $375.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $320.00 price objective (down from $345.00) on shares of Air Products and Chemicals 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 research report on Friday, March 14th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Air Products and Chemicals to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $341.47.

Insider Buying and Selling at Air Products and Chemicals

In related news, VP Walter L. Nelson sold 589 shares of the business's 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 sale, the vice president now directly owns 719 shares in the company, valued at approximately $221,811.50. The trade was a 45.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Wilbur Mok sold 1,300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.88, for a total value of $410,644.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,193 shares in the company, valued at $1,008,604.84. The trade was a 28.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 15,500 shares of company stock worth $4,842,604 in the last three months. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.