Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) Shares Acquired by Pacer Advisors Inc.

Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 44.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 23,957 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,353 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $6,948,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 69.4% in 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. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 88.7% during the 3rd quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 117 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 58.8% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 135 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Air Products and Chemicals during the 3rd quarter worth $42,000. Institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Redburn Atlantic raised Air Products and Chemicals from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $330.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays upgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $315.00 to $365.00 in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Vertical Research raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $336.00 price objective for the company in a report on Monday, October 7th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $305.00 to $365.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Bank of America lowered Air Products and Chemicals from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $350.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $338.47.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of APD stock traded up $7.79 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $335.10. The stock had a trading volume of 1,362,987 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,759,413. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The firm's 50-day moving average is $310.09 and its two-hundred day moving average is $298.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.16 and a beta of 0.84. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 12-month low of $212.24 and a 12-month high of $337.00.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $1.79 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. This is an increase from Air Products and Chemicals's previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. This represents a $7.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. Air Products and Chemicals's payout ratio is currently 41.21%.

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.