Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Sells 180,425 Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. reduced its position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 98.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,535 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 180,425 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc.’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $912,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in APD. Security National Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Thompson Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Air Products and Chemicals during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Air Products and Chemicals in the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 2,250.0% during the 1st quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 141 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. 81.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Air Products and Chemicals Stock Up 1.4 %

NYSE:APD opened at $291.99 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $64.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a twelve month low of $212.24 and a twelve month high of $296.00. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $274.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $260.12.

Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The basic materials company reported $3.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.04 by $0.16. Air Products and Chemicals had a net margin of 21.24% and a return on equity of 16.53%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.04 billion. Equities research analysts expect that Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. will post 12.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Air Products and Chemicals Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio is currently 63.90%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

APD has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $240.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut Air Products and Chemicals from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $310.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $240.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Air Products and Chemicals from $290.00 to $295.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $297.40.

Air Products and Chemicals Company 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.