Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Trims Holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lowered its position in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 87.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,549 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 117,616 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC’s holdings in American Vanguard were worth $93,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of American Vanguard by 67.5% in the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 520,398 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,475,000 after acquiring an additional 209,800 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new position in American Vanguard during the second quarter valued at $1,677,000. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Vanguard in the second quarter valued at $1,006,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in American Vanguard by 28.3% during the 1st quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 228,478 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $2,959,000 after purchasing an additional 50,440 shares during the period. Finally, Barington Capital Group L.P. raised its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 11.8% during the 2nd quarter. Barington Capital Group L.P. now owns 475,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $4,085,000 after buying an additional 50,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.04% of the company’s stock.

American Vanguard Trading Up 1.4 %

AVD stock opened at $6.15 on Tuesday. American Vanguard Co. has a 52-week low of $4.95 and a 52-week high of $14.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm has a market cap of $176.91 million, a P/E ratio of -5.97 and a beta of 0.88. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $5.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $7.29.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on AVD. Lake Street Capital began coverage on American Vanguard in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded American Vanguard from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $16.67.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Vanguard

In other news, insider Peter Eilers sold 5,000 shares of American Vanguard stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.80, for a total value of $29,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 42,905 shares in the company, valued at $248,849. This trade represents a 10.44 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Keith M. Rosenbloom purchased 33,555 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $5.66 per share, for a total transaction of $189,921.30. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,047,410 shares in the company, valued at $5,928,340.60. This represents a 3.31 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have acquired 175,047 shares of company stock valued at $1,009,845. Company insiders own 10.10% 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.