Air Products Faces Divergent Institutional Bets

Air Products’ shares are reflecting a split in what major investors think, with Marshall Wace LLP markedly expanding its stake while Guggenheim Capital LLC trims its exposure. At the same time, research houses adjusted their targets and outlooks.

Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holding in the second quarter by a substantial 640.8% and acquired more than 200,000 additional shares. The fund’s total investment in Air Products now stands at about $65.3 million. In contrast, Guggenheim Capital LLC reduced its position by 9.2% and now holds shares valued at roughly $36.2 million.

Analysts have grown more cautious, though. Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from Sell to Hold on December 6. This change followed a sequence of price-target reductions issued by major research houses. The consolidated price target across the street sits at an average of $313.75, compared with the Friday’s opening price of $260.42, signaling notable upside potential. The overall rating remains a "Moderate Buy."

Air Products’ latest quarterly results painted a mixed picture:
- EPS of $3.39 beat expectations.
- Revenue of $3.13 billion fell short of estimates.
- For the first quarter of 2026, the company guides EPS to a range of $2.95 to $3.10.

Insider activity alongside the chart setup also drew attention. Current insider movements show selling by the company’s President for Asia. A disposition of 145 shares at $261.28 per share was reported as a mandatory sale to settle tax obligations and is not considered a voluntary market order.

From a technical standpoint, the stock trades below the key moving averages, with a 50-day average of $257.76 versus a 200-day average of $276.26. The forthcoming milestone for investors will be the Q1 FY2026 results due in January.