Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS) Shares Bought by First Trust Advisors LP

First Trust Advisors LP grew its position in Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS - Free Report) by 5.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 275,367 shares of the electronics maker's stock after acquiring an additional 14,409 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned about 0.73% of Advanced Energy Industries worth $31,841,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in Advanced Energy Industries by 535.3% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 216 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 61.6% during the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 354 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Advanced Energy Industries during the fourth quarter worth about $74,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its position in Advanced Energy Industries by 16.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 989 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $114,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Advanced Energy Industries by 26.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,023 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $108,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AEIS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup raised Advanced Energy Industries from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $110.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Advanced Energy Industries from $136.00 to $124.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $145.00 price target on shares of Advanced Energy Industries in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Advanced Energy Industries from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Advanced Energy Industries from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Advanced Energy Industries has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $125.22.

Advanced Energy Industries Price Performance

AEIS stock traded up $0.18 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $97.41. 435,644 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 257,052. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $99.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $110.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 3.27 and a current ratio of 4.42. The stock has a market cap of $3.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 68.12, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.47. Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.01 and a fifty-two week high of $132.16.

Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ:AEIS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The electronics maker reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.03). Advanced Energy Industries had a return on equity of 8.90% and a net margin of 3.66%. Research analysts predict that Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Advanced Energy Industries Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, May 24th will be issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.41%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Advanced Energy Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.97%.

Insider Activity

In other Advanced Energy Industries news, Director Lanesha Minnix sold 1,600 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.37, for a total transaction of $206,992.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,492 shares of the company's stock, valued at $451,760.04. This trade represents a 31.42 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO Eduardo Bernal Acebedo sold 19,309 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.61, for a total transaction of $2,155,077.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 19,822 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,212,333.42. This represents a 49.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Advanced Energy Industries Profile

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc provides precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions in the United States and internationally. The company's plasma power products offer solutions to enable innovation for semiconductor and thin film plasma processes, such as dry etch and deposition.