Nicolet Advisory Services LLC Increases Position in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD)

Nicolet Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 6.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,605 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the quarter. Nicolet Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Air Products and Chemicals were worth $458,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Air Products and Chemicals by 72.9% during the first quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,428 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $346,000 after buying an additional 602 shares during the period. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Air Products and Chemicals by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,653 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,369,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares during the period. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals during the 1st quarter worth approximately $281,000. Iron Gate Global Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Air Products and Chemicals in the 1st quarter worth approximately $11,310,000. Finally, Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals by 25.4% during the first quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,799 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $436,000 after purchasing an additional 364 shares during the period. 81.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Air Products and Chemicals Price Performance

APD stock opened at $331.83 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $310.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $282.91. The stock has a market cap of $73.77 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a P/E/G ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.81. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has a one year low of $212.24 and a one year high of $332.69. 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 Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a $1.77 dividend. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.13%. Air Products and Chemicals’s dividend payout ratio is presently 41.21%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Vertical Research upgraded Air Products and Chemicals from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $336.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Redburn Atlantic raised shares of Air Products and Chemicals from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $330.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $350.00 to $345.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $280.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, October 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Air Products and Chemicals from $323.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $331.53.

About Air Products and Chemicals

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.