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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) is the target of a significant reduction in short interest in November. As of November 30, the total number of short equity was 2,060,000 shares, a decrease of 22.3% from the total number of 2,650,000 shares on November 15. Based on the average daily trading volume of 1,070,000 shares, the day coverage ratio is currently 1.9 days. Approximately 0.9% of the company's stock was sold short.

In related news, director Wayne Thomas Smith purchased 1,679 shares in a transaction that took place on Monday, November 22. The stock was acquired at an average cost of US$297.76 per share, with a total value of US$499,939.04. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be found in this hyperlink. In addition, director Edward L. Monser purchased 80 shares in a transaction on Tuesday, November 9. The stock was purchased at an average cost of US$314.49 per share, with a total value of US$25,159.20. The disclosure of this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.43% of the company's shares.

Large investors have recently increased or decreased their stake in the business. Stephenson National Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Air Products and Chemicals stock in the third quarter, valued at approximately $26,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings of Air Products and Chemicals shares by 127.7% in the third quarter. After purchasing another 60 shares last quarter, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC now owns 107 shares of the basic materials company, valued at $27,000. D Orazio & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Air Products and Chemicals stock for approximately $28,000 in the third quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in Air Products and Chemicals stock in the third quarter, valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Simon Quick Advisors LLC increased its holdings of Air Products and Chemicals shares by 30.1% in the third quarter. After purchasing another 34 shares last quarter, Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 147 shares of the basic materials company, valued at $37,000. 81.88% of stocks are currently held by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

The APD on the New York Stock Exchange fell by $4.82 during Friday trading hours to $298.33. The company's trading volume was 1,768,396 shares, while its average trading volume was 1,025,506 shares. Air Products and Chemicals has a 52-week low of US$245.75 and a 52-week high of US$316.39. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $296.40, and the 200-day simple moving average is $285.84. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.51, quick ratio is 2.83, and current ratio is 2.99. The company has a market capitalization of $66.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.60, a PEG ratio of 2.69, and a beta value of 0.79.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) last released earnings results on Thursday, November 4. The basic materials company reported earnings per share of US$2.51 for the quarter, which was US$0.02 higher than the consensus estimate of US$2.49. The return on equity of Air Products and Chemicals was 14.92% and the net profit margin was 20.33%. The business's revenue this quarter was 2.84 billion U.S. dollars, and the market generally expected 2.67 billion U.S. dollars. In the same quarter last year, the company's earnings per share were $2.19. Compared with the same period last year, the company's revenue increased by 22.5%. On average, research analysts predict that Air Products and Chemicals’ earnings per share this year will reach 10.38.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 14. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 3 will receive a dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date for the dividend is Friday, December 31. This means that the annualized dividend is $6.00 and the dividend yield is 2.01%. Air Products and Chemicals' current payout ratio is 63.56%.

APD has been the subject of many recent analyst reports. On Friday, November 5th, Deutsche Bank raised the price target of Air Products and Chemicals from US$315.00 to US$340.00 and gave the company a "Buy" rating in a research report. In a research report on Thursday, December 9th, Wolfe Research downgraded Air Products and Chemicals from an "outperform" rating to an "industry performance" rating, and lowered the company's price target from $332.00 to $331.00. BMO Capital Markets raised the price target of Air Products and Chemicals from US$312.00 to US$338.00, and gave the company an “outperform” rating in its research report on Friday, October 15. Finally, Mizuho began reporting on air products and chemicals in a research report on Friday, November 5. They issued a "buy" rating for the company and a price target of $312.00. An investment analyst rated the stock as a sell rating, five ratings were a hold rating, and 11 ratings were a buy rating. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Air Products and Chemicals currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of US$320.24.

About Air Products

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of atmospheric gases. It operates through the following sectors: Industrial Gas-Americas, Industrial Gas-Europe, Middle East and Africa (Europe, Middle East and Africa), Industrial Gas-Asia, Industrial Gas-Global and Corporate and Others. Industrial gases-sales and production of atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon and rare gases, process gases such as hydrogen, helium, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, synthesis gas and specialty gases And gas production and processing equipment, such as air separation units and non-cryogenic generators.

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