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APD vs FUL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Air Products and Chemicals (APD) vs. H.B. Fuller (FUL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- APD has significantly outperformed FUL year-to-date (YTD, meaning from the start of the current year), with returns of approximately 24% compared to FUL's 6%.
- Recent catalysts include APD's announcement of a new air separation unit (ASU) in Florida to support the space industry, boosting sentiment, while FUL raised its 2026 guidance and implemented global price hikes.
- APD boasts a larger market capitalization of $67 billion versus FUL's $3.4 billion, reflecting greater scale in the industrial gases sector.
- Dividend yields stand at 2.39% for APD and 1.56% for FUL, with both companies recently declaring or increasing payouts.
- APD's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 33.70, higher than FUL's 21.75, indicating different growth expectations in recent market activity.
Introduction
In the basic materials sector, APD and FUL represent distinct approaches to chemical production and distribution. Air Products and Chemicals focuses on industrial gases, while H.B. Fuller specializes in adhesives and specialty chemicals. This stock comparison analyzes their recent performance, business drivers, and market positioning, aiding investors and traders evaluating relative strength in a volatile environment marked by commodity fluctuations and industrial demand shifts. Sector enthusiasts, growth-oriented portfolios, and AI-driven strategy users may find these insights particularly relevant for allocation decisions.
APD Overview and Recent Performance
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) is a leading provider of atmospheric gases like oxygen and nitrogen, process gases including hydrogen and helium, and related equipment for industries such as refining, electronics, and energy. With a market cap exceeding $67 billion, the company maintains a global footprint.
In recent weeks, APD stock has shown robust momentum, approaching 52-week highs near $307 and delivering YTD gains of 24%. This strength stems from strategic expansions, including a new ASU in Florida to serve the space launch sector, hydrogen technology advancements like boilers and fuelers, and analyst upgrades citing commodity tailwinds into 2026. Dividend declarations and helium supply dynamics have further supported positive sentiment, with shares crossing key moving averages amid broader materials sector recovery.
FUL Overview and Recent Performance
H.B. Fuller Company (FUL) manufactures adhesives, sealants, and specialty chemicals for hygiene, engineering, and construction applications across North America, Europe, and Asia. Its $3.4 billion market cap underscores a niche in end-market diversity.
Over recent market activity, FUL shares have risen modestly YTD by 6%, with one-year returns at 17%. Key influences include a Q1 earnings beat, a 4.3% quarterly dividend hike to $0.245 per share, raised 2026 guidance, and global price increases of at least 10% starting April. These moves have stabilized pricing power amid volume challenges, fostering steady performance without dramatic swings.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
APD and FUL both operate in chemicals but diverge in business models: APD's asset-heavy gases production offers recurring revenue from long-term contracts, contrasting FUL's formulation-based adhesives reliant on volume and pricing in consumer/industrial end-markets. Growth drivers highlight APD's edge in clean energy via hydrogen projects versus FUL's emphasis on M&A (mergers and acquisitions) and cost efficiencies.
Recent momentum favors APD with sharper gains and 52-week highs, while FUL exhibits steadier climbs post-earnings. Risk factors include APD's higher debt-to-equity at 102% amid capex (capital expenditures) for expansions, balanced by FUL's similar leverage but exposure to economic cycles. Sector-wise, both benefit from industrial recovery, yet APD's helium and space catalysts provide unique tailwinds. Market sentiment leans positive for APD on analyst targets averaging $318, versus FUL's $66-$70 range, underscoring relative stability trade-offs.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI models currently lean toward APD with higher probability in the near term, driven by superior trend consistency, YTD outperformance, and catalysts like ASU builds and hydrogen innovations amid favorable analyst revisions. FUL remains viable for value plays via pricing actions, but APD's scale and momentum position it better for relative gains in prevailing conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is APD is a Buy and FUL is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
APD’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileFUL’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- APD’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- FUL’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
APD’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while FUL’s TA Score has 7 bullish TA indicator(s).
- APD’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- FUL’s TA Score: 7 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
APD (@Chemicals: Specialty) experienced а +0.05% price change this week, while FUL (@Chemicals: Specialty) price change was -0.17% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Chemicals: Specialty industry was -0.47%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.68%, and the average quarterly price growth was +17.98%.
Reported Earning Dates
APD is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
FUL is expected to report earnings on Jun 24, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Chemicals: Specialty (-0.47% weekly)The specialty chemicals sector includes companies that produce chemicals and industrial gases, which are of relatively high-value, often made to customer specifications. Examples of specialty chemicals are electronic chemicals, industrial gases, coatings, adhesives and sealants, industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals. The products are often valued on the basis of their purposes/performances rather than for their composition. Linde Plc, Ecolab Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., and Dow, Inc. are some of the largest companies making specialty chemicals.
| APD | FUL | APD / FUL | |
| Capitalization | 63B | 3.5B | 1,798% |
| EBITDA | 4.54B | 541M | 839% |
| Gain YTD | 16.171 | 8.986 | 180% |
| P/E Ratio | 29.83 | 22.25 | 134% |
| Revenue | 12.5B | 3.46B | 362% |
| Total Cash | 951M | 108M | 881% |
| Total Debt | 18.4B | 2.08B | 886% |
APD | FUL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 12 | 17 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 30 Undervalued | 37 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 86 | 97 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 61 | 77 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 43 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 75 | 72 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
APD's Valuation (30) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as FUL (37) in the Industrial Specialties industry. This means that APD’s stock grew similarly to FUL’s over the last 12 months.
APD's Profit vs Risk Rating (86) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as FUL (97) in the Industrial Specialties industry. This means that APD’s stock grew similarly to FUL’s over the last 12 months.
APD's SMR Rating (61) in the Chemicals Specialty industry is in the same range as FUL (77) in the Industrial Specialties industry. This means that APD’s stock grew similarly to FUL’s over the last 12 months.
FUL's Price Growth Rating (43) in the Industrial Specialties industry is in the same range as APD (53) in the Chemicals Specialty industry. This means that FUL’s stock grew similarly to APD’s over the last 12 months.
FUL's P/E Growth Rating (72) in the Industrial Specialties industry is in the same range as APD (75) in the Chemicals Specialty industry. This means that FUL’s stock grew similarly to APD’s over the last 12 months.
| APD | FUL | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 48% | 2 days ago 59% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 57% | 2 days ago 54% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 57% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 51% | 2 days ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 53% | 6 days ago 54% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 16 days ago 59% | 19 days ago 59% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 2 days ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 50% |
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APD and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, APD has been loosely correlated with FUL. These tickers have moved in lockstep 52% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if APD jumps, then FUL could also see price increases.
FUL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, FUL has been closely correlated with AVNT. These tickers have moved in lockstep 70% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if FUL jumps, then AVNT could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To FUL | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUL | 100% | -0.85% | ||
| AVNT - FUL | 70% Closely correlated | -1.01% | ||
| RPM - FUL | 70% Closely correlated | -0.41% | ||
| PPG - FUL | 70% Closely correlated | +0.57% | ||
| IOSP - FUL | 66% Loosely correlated | -0.31% | ||
| OLN - FUL | 65% Loosely correlated | -2.14% | ||
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