Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Air Products and Chemicals (APD) provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, equipment and related services. With a market cap of $61.4 billion, the company develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest industrial gas projects, including gasification projects for the production of high-value electricity, oil and chemicals.
Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally described as “large-cap stocks,” and APD fits that description perfectly, with its market cap exceeding that mark, indicating its size, influence and dominance in the specialty chemicals industry. APD operates in 50 countries, allowing it to reach different markets and offer a wide range of products. The company’s strong focus on research and development has led to technological advancements in areas such as cryogenics and hydrogen fuel cells, giving it a competitive edge in the market.
Despite its considerable strength, APD is down 14% from its 52-week high of $321.47 reached on March 3, 2025. Over the past three months, APD stock has gained 7.7%, while the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLB ) has gained 20.5% over the same time frame.
APD shares are up 11.9% on a YTD basis but have fallen 12.6% over the past 52 weeks, undercutting XLB’s YTD gain of 17.4% and returning 20% over the past year.
In confirmation of a bullish trend, APD has been trading above its 200-day moving average since early February, with little change. The stock has been trading above its 50-day moving average since early January.
On January 30, APD shares closed down more than 6% after reporting its Q1 results. Its adjusted EPS came in at $3.16, up 10.5% from the year-ago quarter. The company’s sales rose 5.8% year over year to $3.1 billion.
In the Specialty Chemicals arena, Linde plc ( LIN ) is leading APD, up 19.5% on a YTD basis and showing volatility with gains of 9.1% over the past 52 weeks.
Wall Street analysts are reasonably bullish on APD’s prospects. The stock has a consensus “moderate buy” rating from the 23 analysts that cover it, and an average price target of $301.52 suggesting a potential upside of 9.1% from current price levels.
As of the date of publication, Neha Panjwani had no position (either directly or indirectly) in any of the matters mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is for informational purposes only. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
