Russell Investments Group Ltd. Decreases Holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Russell Investments Group Ltd. lowered its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD - Free Report) by 20.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 172,464 shares of the basic materials company's stock after selling 43,733 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned about 0.08% of Air Products and Chemicals worth $49,897,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Generali Investments Management Co LLC bought a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 69.4% during the fourth quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 105 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Finally, WR Wealth Planners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 40.3% in the 4th quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 108 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.66% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Air Products and Chemicals

In related news, VP Sean D. Major sold 4,500 shares of Air Products and Chemicals stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.46, for a total value of $1,419,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 14,273 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,502,560.58. This trade represents a 23.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Walter L. Nelson sold 589 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $308.50, for a total value of $181,706.50. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 719 shares in the company, valued at $221,811.50. This represents a 45.03 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 15,500 shares of company stock worth $4,842,604. Company insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

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Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

APD stock traded up $6.84 during trading on Friday, hitting $268.88. The stock had a trading volume of 1,002,627 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,494,815. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $227.53 and a twelve month high of $341.14. The company's 50-day moving average price is $298.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $307.63. 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 market capitalization of $59.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.61, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.89.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly 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 net margin of 31.88% and a return on equity of 15.78%. As a group, research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.79 per share. This is a boost from Air Products and Chemicals's previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.66%. Air Products and Chemicals's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on APD shares. StockNews.com downgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group reduced their price target 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. Barclays decreased their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $365.00 to $355.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $373.00 to $345.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $338.24.

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.