Air Products & Chemicals (APD) Posts 19% Adjusted EPS Growth on Higher On-Site Volumes

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (NYSE:APD) is one of the best basic materials stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On April 30, Air Products reported FQ2 2026 earnings, with GAAP EPS of $3.19 and adjusted EPS of $3.20, a 19% increase year-over-year. Sales rose 9% to $3.2 billion, driven by higher on-site volumes and productivity gains across all major regions. The company also made strides in the electronics and aerospace sectors, securing a deal with Samsung for a semiconductor fab in South Korea and supporting NASA’s Artemis II mission with critical hydrogen and helium supplies.

To combat market volatility, the company is prioritizing helium supply chain resilience by using its US storage cavern and increasing domestic liquefaction. While helium pricing presented a headwind, it was largely mitigated by pricing improvements in other product lines and cost-saving initiatives. Consequently, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (NYSE:APD) raised its full-year FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $13.00 to $13.25 and set FQ3 guidance at $3.25 to $3.35.

Air Products & Chemicals (APD) Posts 19% Adjusted EPS Growth on Higher On-Site Volumes

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The company maintains a disciplined capital approach, with FY2026 capital expenditures expected to remain at ~$4.0 billion. Growth was notably balanced across segments, with Asia seeing a 25% increase in operating income and the Americas benefiting from higher merchant and on-site volumes. CEO Eduardo Menezes emphasized that the firm remains focused on unlocking earnings growth and optimizing large-scale projects despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (NYSE:APD) manufactures and distributes atmospheric gases. It operates in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, India, and Corporate and Other.

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