Air Products and Chemicals (APD) Stock

APD is benefiting from its investments in profitable industrial gas projects, as well as from efforts to improve productivity and reduce costs.

Dividends are an important method for these three companies to share their profits with their shareholders.

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Products (NYSE:APD) announced today that it has received a notice from Mantle Ridge about their nominated candidates for the Board of Directors. These nominees will be considered for election at the Company's Annual Meeting in 2025.

Mantle Ridge has put forward nine candidates to take over the board at Air Products and Chemicals. The activist investor is urging the company to appoint a new CEO, change how it allocates its funds, and move away from more dangerous projects.

Air Products and Chemicals is a reputable company in the industrial gases sector, known for its solid financial position, steady dividend increases, and a focus on sustainable growth. Valuation analysis indicates that APD is usually not undervalued, with a current PEG ratio of about 2.4x, which makes it a good option for long-term investors, even though its P/E ratio is high. Swing traders should look to buy when the earnings are below 20x, while long-term investors might consider buying at up to 25x earnings.

Bob Patel and Alfred Stern, both experienced leaders in large publicly traded industrial firms, are set to run for election at Air Products' 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Patel, who has held top positions at W.R. Grace and LyondellBasell, has 35 years of experience in the global chemicals and materials sector, while Stern, the CEO of OMV Group, has 29 years of expertise in transforming global energy and chemicals companies. Their backgrounds include significant roles in managing large-scale projects and company transformations.

Air Products and Chemicals' stock has had mixed results, with recent gains due to improved performance and pressure from activists, but it now seems to be fairly priced. In the fourth quarter, the company reported a 13% increase in earnings per share, even though revenue remained stable, thanks to better margins and operational efficiency, although performance varied by region. The management is being careful with its outlook for fiscal 2025, aiming to cut capital spending and tackle investor worries, such as succession planning and risks related to hydrogen projects.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE:APD) will hold its Q4 2024 Earnings Conference Call on November 7, 2024, at 8:30 AM ET. The call will feature company leaders, including Chairman and CEO Seifi Ghasemi and CFO Melissa Schaeffer, along with various analysts from major financial institutions. The operator welcomes everyone and notes that the call is being recorded at Air Products' request.

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) reported quarterly earnings of $3.56 per share, which is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.44 per share. This is an increase compared to last year's earnings of $3.15 per share.