Syntax Research Inc. Has $2.36 Million Stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Syntax Research Inc. decreased its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 20.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,122 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 2,100 shares during the period. Air Products and Chemicals comprises 1.7% of Syntax Research Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Syntax Research Inc.’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $2,356,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Twin City Private Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Twin City Private Wealth LLC now owns 7,936 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,302,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 21,485,176 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $6,231,560,000 after purchasing an additional 207,404 shares during the period. Community Bank N.A. increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 9,322 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,704,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the period. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Meridian Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,256 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,845,000 after purchasing an additional 765 shares during the period. Finally, Banco de Sabadell S.A increased its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 20.4% in the 4th quarter. Banco de Sabadell S.A now owns 6,496 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,890,000 after purchasing an additional 1,099 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Air Products and Chemicals from $395.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $375.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Air Products and Chemicals to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $342.65.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Walter L. Nelson sold 589 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.50, for a total value of $181,706.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 719 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $221,811.50. This trade represents a 45.03 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Sean D. Major sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s 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 of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,502,560.58. This trade represents a 23.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,500 shares of company stock valued at $4,842,604. 0.41% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Down 0.5 %

APD opened at $291.35 on Monday. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a 1-year low of $227.53 and a 1-year high of $341.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $64.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.85. The business has a 50 day moving average of $313.19 and a 200-day moving average of $308.69.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The basic materials company reported $2.86 earnings per share 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, sell-side analysts anticipate that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given a $1.79 dividend. This represents a $7.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.46%. This is a boost from Air Products and Chemicals’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.77. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio is currently 41.58%.

Air Products and Chemicals 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.