Quantbot Technologies LP Makes New Investment in Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS)

Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 37,750 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,638,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in Axcelis Technologies by 90.6% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 364 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Axcelis Technologies by 1,153.8% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 489 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its stake in Axcelis Technologies by 1,415.2% in the fourth quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 500 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 467 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Axcelis Technologies by 85.5% in the fourth 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. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Axcelis Technologies by 184.3% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 668 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.98% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on ACLS. Craig Hallum reduced their target price on Axcelis Technologies from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Axcelis Technologies in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, William Blair downgraded Axcelis Technologies from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Axcelis Technologies currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $154.00.

Axcelis Technologies Price Performance

ACLS opened at $55.90 on Friday. Axcelis Technologies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $53.67 and a 12-month high of $158.61. The company has a current ratio of 5.41, a quick ratio of 4.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $63.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $77.85. The company has a market capitalization of $1.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.09, a PEG ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.62.

Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The semiconductor company reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Axcelis Technologies, Inc. will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Axcelis Technologies announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, March 12th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the semiconductor company to buy up to 5.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are 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.