Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV Buys 2,207 Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV lifted its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 179.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,435 shares of the basic materials company's stock after buying an additional 2,207 shares during the quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV's holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $1,023,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Forsta AP Fonden boosted its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 13.4% in the third quarter. Forsta AP Fonden now owns 45,700 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $13,607,000 after acquiring an additional 5,400 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 3.6% in the first quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 67,507 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $16,355,000 after purchasing an additional 2,321 shares during the last quarter. Jensen Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 65.0% in the third quarter. Jensen Investment Management Inc. now owns 13,170 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $3,921,000 after purchasing an additional 5,190 shares during the last quarter. Woodstock Corp raised its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 6.5% in the third quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 38,976 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $11,605,000 after purchasing an additional 2,387 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. raised its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 33.8% in the third quarter. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 51,110 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $15,217,000 after purchasing an additional 12,925 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

APD has been the subject of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $300.00 to $323.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $345.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $280.00 to $330.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, October 11th. Barclays upped their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $295.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Air Products and Chemicals from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $310.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $328.18.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

Air Products and Chemicals stock traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $311.89. 339,808 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,611,917. The stock's fifty day moving average is $302.98 and its 200-day moving average is $278.62. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 12 month low of $212.24 and a 12 month high of $332.42. The stock has a market cap of $69.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.11, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

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.