The State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D has expanded its holdings in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) by 4.5% during the third quarter, as reported in the latest filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The pension fund now owns 77,890 shares, following the acquisition of an additional 3,365 shares. As of this filing, the fund’s total investment in Air Products is valued at approximately $21.24 million.
Several other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Air Products and Chemicals in recent months. For instance, Meadow Creek Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake by 1.6% in the second quarter, bringing its total to 2,276 shares valued at around $642,000. Similarly, YANKCOM Partnership raised its holdings by 1.3%, now owning 2,805 shares worth $791,000, while Atlatl Advisers LLC enhanced its position by 2.5%, resulting in 1,488 shares valued at $420,000.
Another noteworthy increase was made by GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC, which boosted its holdings by 7.0%, now holding 568 shares valued at $160,000. Additionally, Sage Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake by 0.3%, owning 14,930 shares worth $4.07 million. Overall, institutional investors now own approximately 81.66% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings and Stock Performance
Equities research analysts have recently provided insights on Air Products and Chemicals. Jefferies Financial Group raised its price target from $300.00 to $313.00, maintaining a “buy” rating. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a “market perform” rating with a target price of $282.00. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo & Company increased its target from $250.00 to $270.00, giving the stock an “equal weight” rating, and UBS Group raised its price objective from $250.00 to $285.00 with a “neutral” rating.
Currently, eight analysts have rated the stock as a “buy,” seven have issued a “hold” rating, and one has rated it as a “sell.” According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average consensus rating of “hold” with a target price of $295.88.
As of Monday, the stock opened at $279.95. Air Products and Chemicals has a market capitalization of $62.33 billion and a P/E ratio of -185.40. The stock has fluctuated between a 12-month low of $229.11 and a high of $321.47. The company’s fifty-day simple moving average stands at $259.41, while its 200-day average is $267.50.
Recent Earnings and Dividend Announcement
On January 30, Air Products and Chemicals reported its earnings results, revealing an earnings per share (EPS) of $3.16, surpassing analysts’ estimates of $3.04. The company generated $3.10 billion in revenue, slightly exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.05 billion. Despite a negative net margin of 2.73%, the firm achieved a return on equity of 15.77%, with quarterly revenue up by 5.8% year-over-year.
Looking ahead, Air Products has set guidance for Q2 2026 at an EPS between $2.95 and $3.10, and for FY 2026, the EPS guidance ranges from $12.85 to $13.15. Analysts project the company will post an EPS of $12.69 for the current year.
Additionally, Air Products recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.81 per share, set to be paid on May 11. Shareholders of record on April 1 will receive this dividend, representing an annualized yield of 2.6%. This marks an increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $1.79. The company’s dividend payout ratio currently stands at -474.17%.
In related news, Ridge Lp Mantle, a director of Air Products, sold 70,175 shares on February 12 at an average price of $284.21, totaling approximately $19.94 million. Following this transaction, Mantle retains ownership of 93,499 shares valued at around $26.57 million, representing a 42.87% decrease in their position.
Air Products and Chemicals, headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading global supplier of industrial gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. The company provides a diverse range of products and services, including gas production facilities and on-site gas systems, catering to various industrial applications.
