American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Price Target Increased to $20.00 by Analysts at Loop Capital

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) had its price objective upped by Loop Capital from $19.00 to $20.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of American Vanguard in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Roth Mkm lifted their price objective on American Vanguard from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded American Vanguard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, American Vanguard has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $18.00.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

NYSE AVD opened at $11.61 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 1.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. American Vanguard has a 12-month low of $8.41 and a 12-month high of $21.60. The firm has a market cap of $334.37 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.00 and a beta of 1.00.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 14th. The basic materials company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.25. American Vanguard had a return on equity of 2.05% and a net margin of 1.30%. The company had revenue of $172.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $172.70 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that American Vanguard will post 0.77 EPS for the current year.

American Vanguard Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 27th were given a dividend of $0.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 26th. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. American Vanguard’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.45%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Vanguard

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in American Vanguard by 477.2% in the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,166 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 964 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 492.4% in the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,340 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 85.0% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,417 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 651 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Middle East FZE purchased a new position in shares of American Vanguard in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Gladius Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of American Vanguard in the fourth quarter worth $37,000. 79.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Vanguard Company Profile

American Vanguard Corporation, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets specialty chemicals for agricultural, commercial, and consumer uses in the United States and internationally. It manufactures and formulates chemicals, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, soil health, plant nutrition, molluscicides, growth regulators, soil fumigants, and biorationals in liquid, powder, and granular forms for crops, turf and ornamental plants, and human and animal health protection.