American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Shares Pass Above 200-Day Moving Average of $10.71

American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)’s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $10.71 and traded as high as $12.00. American Vanguard shares last traded at $11.77, with a volume of 185,636 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Loop Capital lifted their target price on American Vanguard from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, April 15th. Roth Capital reissued a “buy” rating on shares of American Vanguard in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Roth Mkm lifted their price target on shares of American Vanguard from $13.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 15th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of 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, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $18.00.

American Vanguard Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $338.98 million, a P/E ratio of 43.59 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.73. 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 (NYSE:AVD) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 14th. The basic materials company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.25. American Vanguard had a net margin of 1.30% and a return on equity of 2.05%. The company had revenue of $172.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $172.70 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that American Vanguard Co. will post 0.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Vanguard Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 27th were paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 26th. American Vanguard’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.45%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Vanguard

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AVD. CWM LLC grew 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 valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,945 shares in the last quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of American Vanguard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 240.5% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,885 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 4,863 shares during the period. Bfsg LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Vanguard in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $98,000. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new stake in shares of American Vanguard in the third quarter valued at approximately $119,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.04% of the company’s stock.

About American Vanguard

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.