American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) Shares Cross Above 200 Day Moving Average – What’s Next?

American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD)’s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $4.46 and traded as high as $5.92. American Vanguard shares last traded at $5.75, with a volume of 174,796 shares.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of American Vanguard from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Lake Street Capital dropped their target price on shares of American Vanguard from $14.00 to $12.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $12.00.

American Vanguard Stock Down 1.0%

The stock has a market capitalization of $163.48 million, a PE ratio of -1.29 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The company’s 50-day moving average is $5.02 and its 200 day moving average is $4.46.

American Vanguard (NYSE:AVD) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The basic materials company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.11) by $0.08. American Vanguard had a negative net margin of 23.72% and a negative return on equity of 26.21%. The company had revenue of $129.31 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $130.00 million.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Vanguard

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AVD. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 27.2% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 163,251 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $756,000 after purchasing an additional 34,943 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Vanguard during the 1st quarter worth approximately $48,000. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 200,443 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $928,000 after purchasing an additional 13,347 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 232.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 73,149 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $339,000 after purchasing an additional 51,174 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of American Vanguard by 142.5% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 155,355 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $684,000 after purchasing an additional 91,283 shares during the period. 79.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.