Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) AI Stock Analysis
APD AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchAir Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) is a global supplier of atmospheric and process gases, as well as gas processing equipment. In FY2025, the company reported $12.04B in revenue, a net loss of -$394.5M, and free cash flow of -$3.77B driven by $7.02B in capital expenditures. Over the past year, the stock achieved a return of 21.5%, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.
- Market cap
- $66.71B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $12.60B
- P/E
- — fwd 19.9x
- 1Y return
- 21.5% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $342.35 14.3% vs last close
Bull case
- Analysts forecast an 11.8% increase in EPS to $13.45 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, supported by 4 consecutive quarters of earnings beats.
- The company maintains a reliable income profile with 44 consecutive years of dividend payments and a forward annual payout of $7.24 per share.
- Trailing twelve months operating margin reached 25.5%, outperforming the median of its S&P 500 Basic Materials peers of 18.8%.
Bear case
- Capital expenditures reached $7.02B in FY2025, driving free cash flow to -$3.77B and contributing to total debt of $18.16B as of June 30, 2026.
- Annual revenue has contracted for three consecutive fiscal years, declining from $12.70B in FY2022 to $12.04B in FY2025.
- The stock trades at a valuation premium, with a forward P/E of 19.9x compared to the median of its S&P 500 Basic Materials peers of 13.6x.
What Air Products does
Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. supplies atmospheric gases, process gases, equipment, and related services across the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and India. The company provides atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and argon for diverse industrial uses, alongside process gases including hydrogen, helium, and syngas for refining, manufacturing, electronics, energy production, and medical imaging. In addition, Air Products designs and manufactures advanced gas production and processing equipment, including air separation units, non-cryogenic generators, and systems for hydrocarbon recovery, natural gas liquefaction, and the transport and storage of liquid helium and hydrogen.
Growth and profitability
Over the past five fiscal years, Air Products grew revenue from $10.32B in FY2021 to a peak of $12.70B in FY2022, before easing to $12.60B in FY2023, $12.10B in FY2024, and $12.04B in FY2025, generating a 5-year revenue CAGR of 6.3%. Operating margin shifted from 22.1% in FY2021 and 36.9% in FY2024 to -7.3% in FY2025, when net income dropped to -$394.5M. Across the trailing twelve months, revenue was $12.60B with an operating margin of 25.5% and diluted EPS of -$0.21. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue rose 4.6% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded 9.7%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Air Products held $980.5M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $18.16B, resulting in net debt of $17.18B. Total assets stood at $40.45B, shareholders' equity was $13.88B, and the current ratio was 1.08 with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. In FY2025, the company generated $3.25B in operating cash flow. Cash deployment that fiscal year was dominated by $7.02B in capital expenditures and $1.58B in dividends paid, leading to free cash flow of -$3.77B.
Valuation and performance
At the closing price of $299.59 on October 16, 2026, Air Products held a market capitalization of $66.71B and an enterprise value of $81.08B. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 19.9x and a price-to-sales ratio of 5.3x, both above the median of its S&P 500 Basic Materials peers of 13.6x and 2.4x, respectively. Its EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 48.2x also stands above the peer median of 14.0x. Over the past year, APD's 21.5% return outperformed the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, though its 5-year return of 16.2% lagged the index return of 83.0%.
APD dividend
Air Products has paid dividends for 44 consecutive years. The company pays quarterly distributions with a forward annual dividend of $7.24, providing a dividend yield of 2.42%. Its payout ratio is 54.6%, and the 5-year annualized dividend growth rate is 5.9%. The most recent ex-dividend date was October 1, 2026.
What analysts expect
Consensus ratings include 11 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, and 7 Hold recommendations, with 0 Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $342.35, representing a 14.3% premium over the last close of $299.59. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $13.45 on revenue of $12.77B. Air Products has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings report is scheduled for November 5, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- Net debt totaled $17.18B as of June 30, 2026, which could constrain balance sheet flexibility.
- Free cash flow has remained negative for three consecutive fiscal years, dropping to -$3.77B in FY2025.
- Trailing twelve months diluted EPS stands at -$0.21 following a net loss of -$394.5M in FY2025.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this APD AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: APD income statement, APD balance sheet, APD key metrics, APD analyst forecast, APD chart. See the APD stock overview for the latest quote and news.
APD AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Air Products and Chemicals' dividend yield and payout?
Air Products pays a forward annual dividend of $7.24 per share, which corresponds to a dividend yield of 2.42%. The company has distributed dividends for 44 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 54.6%.
What are analysts forecasting for APD's fiscal year earnings and revenue?
For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, analysts expect EPS of $13.45 and revenue of $12.77B. For the subsequent fiscal year, 23 analysts project revenue of $13.50B and EPS of $14.45.
How do APD's valuation multiples compare to its sector peers?
Air Products trades at a forward P/E of 19.9x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 48.2x. These multiples are higher than the median of its S&P 500 Basic Materials peers, which stand at 13.6x and 14.0x, respectively.
When is Air Products scheduled to report its next earnings?
The company's next earnings date is November 5, 2026.