Short Interest in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) Declines By 9.3%

American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) was the target of a large decline in short interest in October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 693,400 shares, a decline of 9.3% from the October 15th total of 764,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 275,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.5 days. Currently, 2.6% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Insider Activity at American Vanguard

In other American Vanguard news, Director Keith M. Rosenbloom acquired 33,555 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $5.66 per share, for a total transaction of $189,921.30. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 1,047,410 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,928,340.60. This trade represents a 3.31 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Peter Eilers sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $5.80, for a total transaction of $29,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 42,905 shares in the company, valued at $248,849. The trade was a 10.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders bought 175,047 shares of company stock valued at $1,009,845. 10.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Vanguard

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in American Vanguard during the third quarter worth about $2,351,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in American Vanguard by 67.5% during the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 520,398 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,475,000 after buying an additional 209,800 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new stake in American Vanguard during the second quarter worth $1,677,000. AQR Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in American Vanguard in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,006,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 535.7% in the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 135,165 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,162,000 after buying an additional 113,901 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.04% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVD has been the topic of several analyst reports. Lake Street Capital assumed coverage on American Vanguard in a report on Monday, July 22nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Vanguard from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $16.67.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

NYSE AVD traded up $0.08 during trading on Monday, hitting $6.15. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 281,859 shares, compared to its average volume of 260,141. American Vanguard has a 52 week low of $4.95 and a 52 week high of $14.28. The firm has a market cap of $176.91 million, a P/E ratio of -5.97 and a beta of 0.88. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $5.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55.

American Vanguard Company 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.