Zacks Industry Outlook Spotlights Air Products and Chemicals, Albemarle, and Avient
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
0mins
Should l Buy APD?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Industry Challenges: The Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry is facing demand headwinds due to lower consumer spending, particularly in the building & construction and consumer electronics markets, exacerbated by inflation and economic slowdowns in Europe and China.
Strategic Responses: Companies like Air Products, Albemarle, and Avient are implementing cost-cutting measures, improving operational efficiency, and raising prices to maintain margins amid these challenges.
Market Performance: The Chemicals Diversified industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the broader Basic Materials sector, with a significant decline in stock value over the past year.
Stock Recommendations: Analysts suggest keeping an eye on Air Products, Albemarle, and Avient, highlighting their strategic initiatives and potential for earnings growth despite current market difficulties.
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Analyst Views on APD
Wall Street analysts forecast APD stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for APD is 283.00 USD with a low forecast of 245.00 USD and a high forecast of 345.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 283.500
Low
245.00
Averages
283.00
High
345.00
Current: 283.500
Low
245.00
Averages
283.00
High
345.00
About APD
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. is an industrial gases company. The Company is focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets. Its base business provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food. The Company also develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates clean hydrogen projects supporting the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy in the heavy-duty transportation and industrial sectors. In addition, the Company provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally. The Company has operations in approximately 50 countries. Its industries include aerospace, analytical labs & research/science, automotive, beverages, bioenergy, biotechnology, cement and lime, chemicals, electronics, food, glass and frit, hydrogen energy, medical, metals and materials processing, metals production, medical and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Air Products reported first-quarter revenue of $3.103 billion, a 6% increase from $2.932 billion year-over-year, surpassing analyst expectations of $3.051 billion, indicating strong performance in the industrial gases sector.
- Adjusted EPS Increase: The adjusted EPS reached $3.16, up 10% year-over-year, exceeding the top end of company guidance and the analyst estimate of $3.04, reflecting enhanced profitability and operational efficiency.
- Stable Capital Expenditure Plans: The company anticipates fiscal 2026 capital expenditures of approximately $4.0 billion, reaffirming its commitment to future growth while confirming adjusted EPS guidance between $12.85 and $13.15, showcasing confidence in earnings growth.
- Analyst Rating Adjustments: Analysts from JP Morgan and Wells Fargo raised their price targets from $260 and $250 to $280 and $270 respectively, reflecting optimistic market expectations for the company's future performance and further solidifying investor confidence.
See More
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- Stock Index Declines: The S&P 500 index fell by 0.43%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 0.36%, and the Nasdaq 100 decreased by 1.28%, reflecting cautious investor sentiment following President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as the new Fed Chair, which raised concerns about future monetary policy.
- Producer Prices Rise: The US December Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 0.5% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year, both exceeding market expectations, indicating heightened inflationary pressures that could influence the Fed's policy decisions moving forward.
- Mining Stocks Plummet: Mining stocks faced significant sell-offs as gold and silver prices dropped sharply, with Coeur Mining and Hecla Mining declining over 17% and 15%, respectively, reflecting a pessimistic outlook on precious metals amid rising dollar strength.
- Positive Earnings Outlook: Despite the overall market decline, 102 S&P 500 companies are set to report earnings this week, with 77% of the 143 companies that have reported so far exceeding expectations, indicating resilience in corporate profitability, with S&P earnings growth projected to reach 8.4% in Q4.
See More
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- Earnings Growth: Air Products reported a 12% year-over-year increase in adjusted operating income for Q1 2026, with earnings per share reaching $3.16, demonstrating effective strategies in productivity enhancement despite a weak economic backdrop.
- Project Optimization Strategy: The CEO emphasized a continued focus on the core industrial gas business, implementing project cancellations, headcount optimization, and asset rationalization to enhance performance, which is expected to drive future earnings growth.
- Sustained Shareholder Returns: The company announced a dividend increase, marking the 44th consecutive year of raising dividends, reflecting its commitment to shareholder returns while returning nearly $400 million in cash to shareholders in the quarter.
- Stable Outlook: Despite ongoing helium demand pressures, management maintained its fiscal year EPS guidance of $12.85 to $13.15, anticipating growth primarily through pricing actions and productivity improvements.
See More
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- Inflation Data Impact: The US December Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.5% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year, exceeding expectations, indicating heightened inflationary pressures that could lead the Fed to maintain high interest rates, negatively impacting the stock market.
- Fed Chair Nomination: President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, with markets perceiving him as cautious towards rate cuts, which pushed the 10-year Treasury yield to a one-week high of 4.277%, exacerbating downward pressure on stocks.
- Earnings Outlook: With 102 S&P 500 companies set to report earnings this week, 77% of the 143 companies that have reported so far have beaten expectations, demonstrating corporate earnings resilience that may provide support for the market.
- Government Shutdown Risk: Trump reached a tentative deal with Senate Democrats to avert a government shutdown, but the House will take 72 hours to vote, and if unresolved quickly, it could negatively affect market sentiment in the short term.
See More
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- Inflation Data Surprises: The US December Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.5% month-over-month and 3.0% year-over-year, exceeding expectations of 0.2% and 2.8%, indicating heightened inflationary pressures that could influence Fed policy decisions.
- Fed Chair Nomination Impact: President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Fed Chair, with markets perceiving him as more hawkish, leading to a rise in the 10-year T-note yield to a one-week high of 4.277%, further exacerbating downward pressure on stocks.
- Strong Earnings Reports: With 102 S&P 500 companies set to report earnings this week, 77% of the 143 companies that have reported so far have beaten expectations, and S&P earnings growth is projected to reach 8.4% in Q4, showcasing corporate resilience amid market volatility.
- Government Shutdown Risk Eases: Trump reached a tentative deal with Senate Democrats to avert a government shutdown, which, while requiring a 72-hour House vote, is expected to have minimal impact on federal operations if resolved quickly.
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