Core Insights - Air Products and Chemicals reported an increase in profit and revenue for its fiscal first quarter, driven by higher prices resulting from increased energy costs [1] Financial Performance - The company experienced higher profit and revenue compared to previous periods, indicating strong financial performance [1]

While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Friday, industrial gases company Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) said it expects adjusted earnings for the second quarter in a range of $2.95 to $3.10 per share, and maintained its adjusted earnings guidance for the full-year 2026 in the range of $12.85 to $13.15 per share.On average, analysts polled expect the company to report earnings of $3.02 per share for the quarter and $12.91 per share for the year. Analysts' estimates typically exclu ...

Core Insights - Air Products reported strong first quarter results for fiscal 2026, exceeding guidance with adjusted EPS of $3.16, a 10% increase, and adjusted operating income of $757 million, up 12% [1][2] Financial Performance - GAAP EPS for Q1 FY26 was $3.04, reflecting a 10% increase year-over-year, while GAAP operating income rose to $735 million, a 14% increase [1][2] - Total sales for the first quarter reached $3.1 billion, marking a 6% increase from the previous year, driven by higher energy cost pass-through and favorable currency effects [1][2] - Adjusted operating margin improved to 24.4%, up 140 basis points compared to the prior year [1][2] Business Segments - Sales in the Americas segment increased by 4% to $1.3 billion, with operating income rising to $404 million, a 4% increase [2][4] - Europe saw a 12% increase in sales to $782 million, with operating income up 20% to $224 million [2][4] - Asia's sales increased by 2% to $832 million, with operating income rising 7% to $232 million [2][4] Guidance and Outlook - The company maintains its full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance in the range of $12.85 to $13.15, with Q2 adjusted EPS guidance set at $2.95 to $3.10 [2][6] - Capital expenditures for fiscal 2026 are expected to be approximately $4.0 billion [2][6] Recent Developments - Air Products secured over $140 million in supply contracts from NASA for liquid hydrogen [1][6] - The company increased its quarterly dividend to $1.81 per share, marking the 44th consecutive year of dividend increases [1][6] - Advanced negotiations were announced with Yara International for low emission ammonia projects in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia [1]

Core Insights - Air Products has been awarded contracts from NASA totaling over $140 million to supply liquid hydrogen for various NASA facilities, including the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - Air Products is a leading industrial gases company with over 85 years of operation, focusing on energy, environmental, and emerging markets [6] - The company generated $12 billion in sales for fiscal 2025, operating in approximately 50 countries [7] Group 2: Relationship with NASA - Air Products has supported NASA since 1957, supplying critical industrial gases for various space missions, including Apollo and Artemis [2][3] - The company will supply approximately 36.5 million pounds of liquid hydrogen under the new contract for NASA facilities in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi [2] Group 3: Infrastructure and Capabilities - In 2025, Air Products completed the first fill of the world's largest hydrogen sphere at the Kennedy Space Center, delivering over 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen [4] - The hydrogen sphere measures 90 feet tall and 83 feet in diameter, showcasing the company's capability to handle large-scale hydrogen projects [4] Group 4: Market Engagement - Air Products is actively involved in supporting privatized space launches and missions, providing gases necessary for rocket and satellite manufacturing, testing, and launches [5]

thMarks 44 Consecutive Year of Quarterly Dividend Increases on Company's Common Stock thLEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Air Products (NYSE:APD) has increased the quarterly dividend on the Company's common stock to $1.81 per share, marking the 44 consecutive year of dividend increases. The dividend is payable on May 11, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2026. About Air Products  Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industr ...

Core Viewpoint - The analysis compares Avient (AVNT) and Air Products and Chemicals (APD) to determine which stock represents a better value opportunity for investors interested in the Chemical - Diversified sector [1]. Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - Avient currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Air Products and Chemicals has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting a less favorable earnings outlook [3]. - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, which positions AVNT as having a more favorable earnings outlook compared to APD [3]. Group 2: Valuation Metrics - Avient has a forward P/E ratio of 12.40, significantly lower than Air Products and Chemicals' forward P/E of 20.37, indicating that AVNT may be undervalued relative to APD [5]. - The PEG ratio for Avient is 1.25, while for Air Products and Chemicals, it is 2.60, suggesting that AVNT is expected to grow earnings at a more favorable rate relative to its price [5]. - Avient's P/B ratio stands at 1.44, compared to APD's P/B of 3.39, further indicating that AVNT is trading at a lower valuation relative to its book value [6]. - Based on these valuation metrics, Avient holds a Value grade of A, while Air Products and Chemicals has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the view that AVNT is the better investment option at this time [6].

Group 1 - Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:APD) is recognized as a strong investment opportunity in the materials sector, particularly favored by hedge funds [1] - Citi analyst Patrick Cunningham has maintained a Neutral rating on APD and increased the target price from $245 to $272, reflecting a positive outlook on the currency and sales environment for the specialty chemicals sector [1] - Bank of America Securities analyst Steve Byrne upgraded APD from Underperform to Neutral, setting a price target of $275, indicating a potential upside of 6.5% [2] Group 2 - Byrne's upgrade is based on the belief that market conditions are not as vulnerable as the volatility of APD shares suggests, and he acknowledged management's efforts to address challenges related to backlog projects [3] - The success of APD's turnaround strategy is expected to rely on traditional gas projects rather than underperforming legacy projects [3] - Air Products and Chemicals is a global leader in producing process and specialty gases, serving various industries including electronics, metals, chemicals, and energy [4]

Core Thesis - Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) is positioned as a strong investment opportunity due to its stable revenue model, long-term contracts, and leadership in the transition to cleaner energy, particularly in hydrogen production [1][6][7]. Business Model - APD operates under long-term "take-or-pay" contracts, typically lasting 15 to 20 years, ensuring predictable cash flows and providing downside protection during economic fluctuations [4][5]. - The company's contract structure supports stable margins and visibility into future earnings, allowing for confident investments in large-scale projects without excessive balance-sheet risk [5]. Market Position - Air Products is a global leader in supplying industrial gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, serving critical sectors including electronics, energy, chemicals, and healthcare [2]. - The essential nature of industrial gases creates high switching costs for customers, leading to strong customer retention and a durable competitive position [3]. Growth Potential - The demand for low-carbon hydrogen is increasing across various applications, positioning APD to benefit from long-term growth trends in the energy sector [6][7]. - The company's significant investments in hydrogen production and infrastructure leverage its technical expertise and project execution capabilities, enhancing its market leadership [6]. Financial Metrics - As of January 19th, APD's share price was $267.53, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 38.38 and 20.58 respectively, indicating a favorable valuation for growth investors [1].

Company Overview - Air Products is a world-leading industrial gases company with over 80 years of operation, focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets while generating a cleaner future [3] - The company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment, and applications expertise to various industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical, and food [3] - As the leading global supplier of hydrogen, Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns, and operates some of the world's largest clean hydrogen projects, supporting the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy [3] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, Air Products reported sales of $12.0 billion from operations across approximately 50 countries [4] Upcoming Events - Air Products will hold a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2026 first quarter financial results on January 30, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET, which will be open to the public and media in listen-only mode [1] - The teleconference can be accessed via telephone at 646-769-9200 with the passcode 2207146, and an internet broadcast will be available on the company's Investor Relations website [2]

Core Viewpoint - Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) is a significant player in the atmospheric and specialty gases market, with a market capitalization of $58.7 billion, and is set to announce its fiscal Q1 earnings for 2026 soon [1] Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate APD will report a profit of $3.05 per share for fiscal Q1 2026, reflecting a 6.6% increase from $2.86 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year 2026, ending in September, expected earnings per share (EPS) is projected to be $12.95, which is a 7.7% increase from $12.03 in fiscal 2025, with further growth to $13.82 expected in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, APD shares have declined by 7.6%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's return of 17.7% and the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF's increase of 14.7% [4] - Following the Q4 earnings release, APD's shares rose by 8.9%, despite a slight year-over-year revenue decrease to $3.2 billion and a 4.8% drop in adjusted EPS to $3.39 [5] Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for APD, with 10 out of 23 analysts recommending "Strong Buy," one suggesting "Moderate Buy," and 12 advising "Hold." The average price target for APD is $291, indicating a potential upside of 10.3% from current levels [6]