Empowered Funds LLC Grows Holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD)

Empowered Funds LLC increased its holdings in American Vanguard Co. (NYSE:AVD) by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 64,915 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 3,216 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLC’s holdings in American Vanguard were worth $344,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Vanguard by 67.5% in the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 520,398 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,475,000 after acquiring an additional 209,800 shares in the last quarter. Barington Capital Group L.P. boosted its stake in American Vanguard by 11.8% in the 2nd quarter. Barington Capital Group L.P. now owns 475,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,085,000 after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new stake in American Vanguard during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,677,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its stake in American Vanguard by 535.7% during the 2nd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 135,165 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,162,000 after purchasing an additional 113,901 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in American Vanguard in the second quarter worth about $1,006,000. 79.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Keith M. Rosenbloom purchased 33,555 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $5.66 per share, for a total transaction of $189,921.30. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 1,047,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,928,340.60. This represents a 3.31 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Steven D. Macicek acquired 12,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 15th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $5.97 per share, with a total value of $71,640.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 31,218 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $186,371.46. This trade represents a 62.44 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased a total of 175,047 shares of company stock valued at $1,009,845 in the last 90 days. 10.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

American Vanguard Trading Down 1.5 %

American Vanguard stock opened at $5.82 on Tuesday. American Vanguard Co. has a one year low of $4.95 and a one year high of $14.28. The business’s fifty day moving average is $5.52 and its 200 day moving average is $7.08. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $167.55 million, a PE ratio of -5.65 and a beta of 0.88.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of American Vanguard from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $16.67.

American Vanguard Company Profile

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.