Kennedy Capital Management LLC Raises Stake in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Kennedy Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 4.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 79,596 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,571 shares during the quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.28% of American Vanguard worth $1,031,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quadrature Capital Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 47.8% during the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 23,218 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $301,000 after acquiring an additional 7,508 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 15,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $194,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. EntryPoint Capital LLC lifted its position in American Vanguard by 363.9% during the first quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC now owns 10,118 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $131,000 after buying an additional 7,937 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in American Vanguard by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 354,662 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,591,000 after purchasing an additional 12,254 shares during the period. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 788.8% in the first quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 310,598 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,022,000 after buying an additional 275,653 shares in the last quarter. 79.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

Shares of AVD opened at $9.62 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $269.26 million, a PE ratio of 37.00 and a beta of 0.91. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $8.80 and its 200 day moving average price 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. American Vanguard Co. has a 12-month low of $7.94 and a 12-month high of $18.22.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $135.14 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $141.20 million. American Vanguard had a return on equity of 2.20% and a net margin of 1.22%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.07 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that American Vanguard Co. will post 0.44 EPS for the current 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 $0.03 dividend. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 26th. American Vanguard’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on AVD. Lake Street Capital began coverage on shares of American Vanguard in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Loop Capital increased their price target on American Vanguard from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 15th. Finally, StockNews.com cut American Vanguard from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $16.67.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

About American Vanguard

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.