Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) Shares Acquired by MetLife Investment Management LLC

MetLife Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 58,837 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 1,036 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC's holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $17,065,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of APD. Chelsea Counsel Co. increased its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 1.5% in the third quarter. Chelsea Counsel Co. now owns 3,377 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $1,005,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares during the period. Tudor Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,654,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 35.5% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 2,930 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $872,000 after buying an additional 768 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 1,205.1% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 38,423 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $11,440,000 after acquiring an additional 35,479 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 286.7% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 21,299 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $6,342,000 after acquiring an additional 15,791 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of APD stock traded up $4.12 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $268.86. 813,572 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,485,762. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 1 year low of $228.81 and a 1 year high of $341.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a market cap of $59.81 billion, a PE ratio of 15.61, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.89. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $289.66 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $305.94.

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 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 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Francesco Maione sold 2,016 shares of Air Products and Chemicals 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 completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,834 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,173,204. The trade was a 34.46 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Kurt Lefevere sold 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.17, for a total value of $474,255.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,462 shares in the company, valued at approximately $462,240.54. This represents a 50.64 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,500 shares of company stock valued at $4,842,604. 0.41% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on APD. Citigroup lowered their price target on Air Products and Chemicals from $373.00 to $345.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and set 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. BMO Capital Markets downgraded Air Products and Chemicals from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $330.00 to $282.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $332.18.

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.