Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS) Sees Large Volume Increase Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Shares of Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS – Get Rating) saw unusually-high trading volume on Thursday following a better than expected earnings announcement. Approximately 17,351 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 95% from the previous session’s volume of 327,500 shares.The stock last traded at $76.51 and had previously closed at $72.70.

The semiconductor company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.33. Axcelis Technologies had a return on equity of 23.53% and a net margin of 16.88%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.55 earnings per share.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. B. Riley lowered their price objective on Axcelis Technologies from $98.00 to $80.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, June 15th. StockNews.com lowered Axcelis Technologies from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 20th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Axcelis Technologies presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $75.75.

Institutional Trading of Axcelis Technologies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Allworth Financial LP bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Private Capital Group LLC bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. CWM LLC increased its position in Axcelis Technologies by 57.7% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 514 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies in the 4th quarter valued at about $56,000. 83.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Axcelis Technologies Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $2.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.64 and a beta of 1.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 3.02 and a current ratio of 4.40. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $58.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $62.09.

Axcelis Technologies Company Profile

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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. The company offers high energy, high current, and medium current implanters for various application requirements.