Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) Shares Purchased by LPL Financial LLC

LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) by 36.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,834 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after purchasing an additional 16,152 shares during the quarter. LPL Financial LLC owned approximately 0.19% of Axcelis Technologies worth $4,250,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in Axcelis Technologies during the fourth quarter valued at $454,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 39.2% during the fourth quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 145,167 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $10,143,000 after acquiring an additional 40,879 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 37.8% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,060,096 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $74,069,000 after acquiring an additional 290,678 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Axcelis Technologies in the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,638,000. Finally, Boston Partners increased its position in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 34.4% during the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 330,073 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $23,095,000 after purchasing an additional 84,481 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.98% of the company’s stock.

Axcelis Technologies Stock Up 14.6 %

Axcelis Technologies stock opened at $48.90 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.95, a PEG ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.59. 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, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.40 and a fifty-two week high of $158.61. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $57.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $72.72.

Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The semiconductor company reported $1.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.29. Axcelis Technologies had a return on equity of 21.02% and a net margin of 19.75%. Equities research analysts expect that Axcelis Technologies, Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Axcelis Technologies announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, March 12th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the semiconductor company to purchase up to 5.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ACLS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Axcelis Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. William Blair cut shares of Axcelis Technologies from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, Craig Hallum cut their price target on Axcelis Technologies from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $154.00.

About Axcelis Technologies

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.