Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. Sells 23,559 Shares of American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. reduced its stake in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 6.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 315,483 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 23,559 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. owned approximately 1.13% of American Vanguard worth $4,086,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. CWM LLC raised its stake in American Vanguard by 492.4% during the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,340 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares in the last quarter. Bfsg LLC bought a new position in shares of American Vanguard in the 4th quarter valued at about $98,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in American Vanguard by 251.5% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 178,038 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,953,000 after acquiring an additional 127,386 shares in the last quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP bought a new stake in American Vanguard during the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its position in American Vanguard by 155.3% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 104,022 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,141,000 after purchasing an additional 63,271 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.04% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded American Vanguard from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 10th. Lake Street Capital started coverage on shares of American Vanguard in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Loop Capital lifted their price target on shares of American Vanguard from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, American Vanguard has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $16.67.

Insider Activity at American Vanguard

In related news, Director Steven D. Macicek purchased 8,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $9.01 per share, for a total transaction of $76,585.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,044 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $90,496.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Ulrich Trogele purchased 18,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $8.75 per share, for a total transaction of $159,250.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 209,876 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,836,415. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven D. Macicek acquired 8,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 15th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $9.01 per share, for a total transaction of $76,585.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,044 shares in the company, valued at $90,496.44. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 10.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

American Vanguard Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of NYSE:AVD traded up $0.25 on Wednesday, hitting $9.59. 43,663 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 221,462. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $8.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $268.42 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.92 and a beta of 0.91. American Vanguard Co. has a 12 month low of $7.94 and a 12 month high of $18.22.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.01. American Vanguard had a net margin of 1.22% and a return on equity of 2.20%. The business had revenue of $135.14 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.20 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.07 EPS. Analysts anticipate that American Vanguard Co. will post 0.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Vanguard Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 26th were issued a dividend of $0.03 per share. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 26th. American Vanguard’s payout ratio is 46.15%.

American Vanguard Profile

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.