Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the seven analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $131.00.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ACLS shares. William Blair downgraded shares of Axcelis Technologies from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. B. Riley reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $50.00 target price (down previously from $80.00) on shares of Axcelis Technologies in a report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Axcelis Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th.

Insider Transactions at Axcelis Technologies

In related news, Director John T. Kurtzweil sold 1,682 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.93, for a total transaction of $104,166.26. Following the sale, the director now owns 35,050 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,170,646.50. This trade represents a 4.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.48% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 10.7% in the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 7,630 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $533,000 after buying an additional 738 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Axcelis Technologies by 1,153.8% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 489 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 85.5% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 627 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the period. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 46.8% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,371 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $96,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 78,037.4% in the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 782,155 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $54,649,000 after purchasing an additional 781,154 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.98% of the company’s stock.

Axcelis Technologies Price Performance

Axcelis Technologies stock opened at $59.07 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $1.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.52. Axcelis Technologies has a one year low of $40.40 and a one year high of $158.61. The business has a fifty day moving average of $52.08 and a two-hundred day moving average of $63.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 4.05 and a current ratio of 5.41.

Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The semiconductor company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.65. The firm had revenue of $192.56 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $184.86 million. Axcelis Technologies had a net margin of 19.75% and a return on equity of 21.02%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.57 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Axcelis Technologies will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Axcelis Technologies declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, March 12th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the semiconductor company to reacquire up to 5.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Axcelis Technologies Company Profile

Axcelis Technologies, Inc designs, manufactures, and services ion implantation and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company offers high energy, high current, and medium current implanters for various application requirements.