Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Trims Stock Position in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lowered its holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD - Free Report) by 87.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,549 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 117,616 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned 0.06% of American Vanguard worth $93,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pullen Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Vanguard by 15.8% in the third quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 81,143 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $430,000 after buying an additional 11,054 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of American Vanguard in the 3rd quarter valued at about $56,000. Point72 DIFC Ltd lifted its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 195.7% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 DIFC Ltd now owns 5,080 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 3,362 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in American Vanguard in the 2nd quarter worth about $173,000. Finally, Algert Global LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Vanguard in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $158,000. Institutional investors own 79.04% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at American Vanguard

In other American Vanguard news, Director Keith M. Rosenbloom purchased 33,555 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $5.66 per share, with a total value of $189,921.30. Following the transaction, the director now owns 1,047,410 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,928,340.60. This trade represents a 3.31 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Peter Eilers sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.80, for a total transaction of $29,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 42,905 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $248,849. This represents a 10.44 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have bought 175,047 shares of company stock worth $1,009,845. Insiders own 10.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on AVD. Lake Street Capital initiated coverage on shares of American Vanguard in a report on Monday, July 22nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Vanguard from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Vanguard currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $16.67.

American Vanguard Stock Up 3.3 %

Shares of AVD traded up $0.20 on Tuesday, hitting $6.35. 534,057 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 260,843. The company has a market capitalization of $182.82 million, a PE ratio of -6.14 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.89. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.52 and a 200 day simple moving average of $7.29. American Vanguard Co. has a one year low of $4.95 and a one year high of $14.28.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets specialty chemicals for agricultural, commercial, and consumer uses in the United States and internationally. It manufactures and formulates chemicals, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, soil health, plant nutrition, molluscicides, growth regulators, soil fumigants, and biorationals in liquid, powder, and granular forms for crops, turf and ornamental plants, and human and animal health protection.