Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. Acquires 106 Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Symphony Financial Ltd. Co. grew its stake in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 3.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 3,218 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the quarter. Symphony Financial Ltd. Co.’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $1,029,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of APD. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund raised its stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 2,063.6% during the 2nd quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 100,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $25,805,000 after purchasing an additional 95,378 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 56.8% during the second quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 947 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $244,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank lifted its stake in Air Products and Chemicals by 6.9% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 45,287 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $13,484,000 after acquiring an additional 2,925 shares during the last quarter. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co. grew its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Co. now owns 8,673 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,582,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the period. Finally, Delta Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the 3rd quarter worth about $210,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.66% of the company’s stock.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

Shares of NYSE APD opened at $335.36 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.34. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $212.24 and a fifty-two week high of $338.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.52, a P/E/G ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 0.84. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $310.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $298.99.

Air Products and Chemicals Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be given 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 2.14%. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio is currently 41.21%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on APD. Redburn Atlantic upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $330.00 price target for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $315.00 to $365.00 in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Bank of America cut Air Products and Chemicals from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $350.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $330.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $323.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $340.50.

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.