Air Products & Chemicals Inc (APD): Today's Featured Chemicals Winner

Air Products & Chemicals (APD) pushed the Chemicals industry higher today making it today's featured chemicals winner. The industry as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Air Products & Chemicals rose 60 cents (0.8%) to $77.48 on average volume. Throughout the day, 1.2 million shares of Air Products & Chemicals exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.2 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $76.49-$77.61 after having opened the day at $77.08 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $76.88. Other companies within the Chemicals industry that increased today were: Gushan Environmental Energy (GU), up 46.1%, Synthesis Energy Sys (SYMX), up 16%, American Pacific Corporation (APFC), up 9.9%, and Penford Corporation (PENX), up 8.3%.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. provides atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, equipment, and services worldwide. Air Products & Chemicals has a market cap of $16.71 billion and is part of the basic materials sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.3, above the average chemicals industry P/E ratio of 14.2 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 9.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate Air Products & Chemicals a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and six rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Air Products & Chemicals as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its reasonable valuation levels, good cash flow from operations and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Air Products Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Pure Bioscience (PURE), down 9.1%, Pacific Ethanol (PEIX), down 7.6%, Omnova Solutions (OMN), down 6.7%, and Gulf Resources (GURE), down 6.6%, were all losers within the chemicals industry with LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) being today's chemicals industry loser.

• Use our chemicals section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the chemicals industry could consider Materials Select Sector SPDR (XLB) while those bearish on the chemicals industry could consider ProShares Short Basic Materials Fd (SBM).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Air Products & Chemicals Inc click any of the following:

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