Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. trimmed its position in shares of American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 23.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 198,877 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 62,259 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in American Vanguard were worth $1,054,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Eagle Investment Management LLC increased its position in American Vanguard by 67.5% during 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 purchasing an additional 209,800 shares during the period. Barington Capital Group L.P. increased its position in shares of American Vanguard by 11.8% during the second 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 period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. bought a new position in American Vanguard in the second quarter worth about $1,677,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in American Vanguard by 535.7% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 135,165 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,162,000 after buying an additional 113,901 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Vanguard in the second quarter worth about $1,006,000. 79.04% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Steven D. Macicek acquired 12,000 shares of American Vanguard stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was bought at an average price of $5.97 per share, with a total value of $71,640.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 31,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $186,371.46. This represents a 62.44 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 10.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com raised American Vanguard from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $16.67.

American Vanguard Stock Down 6.9 %

NYSE:AVD opened at $4.59 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $5.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.71. The company has a market capitalization of $132.14 million, a PE ratio of -4.46 and a beta of 0.89. American Vanguard Co. has a 1-year low of $4.57 and a 1-year high of $14.28.

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.