Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS) Shares Sold by GW&K Investment Management LLC

GW&K Investment Management LLC trimmed its position in Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS - Free Report) by 3.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 300,473 shares of the electronics maker's stock after selling 9,714 shares during the quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC owned about 0.80% of Advanced Energy Industries worth $28,638,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised 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 valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Energy Industries during the fourth quarter worth $47,000. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Advanced Energy Industries during the fourth quarter valued at $51,000. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 71.5% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 559 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Finally, DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale purchased a new stake in Advanced Energy Industries in the first quarter valued at $78,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Advanced Energy Industries

In related news, EVP Paul R. Oldham sold 1,173 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.29, for a total transaction of $154,003.17. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 31,006 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,070,777.74. This represents a 3.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP John Donaghey sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.00, for a total transaction of $280,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 11,029 shares in the company, valued at $1,544,060. The trade was a 15.35% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Advanced Energy Industries Stock Down 1.3%

NASDAQ:AEIS traded down $1.87 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $139.04. 46,117 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 336,235. The company has a current ratio of 4.43, a quick ratio of 3.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The company has a market capitalization of $5.23 billion, a PE ratio of 71.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.52. Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $75.01 and a fifty-two week high of $145.52. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $129.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $115.30.

Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ:AEIS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The electronics maker reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.97 by $0.26. The business had revenue of $404.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $392.36 million. Advanced Energy Industries had a net margin of 4.73% and a return on equity of 10.70%. The business's revenue was up 23.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.58 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. will post 3.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Advanced Energy Industries from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $130.00 price objective (down previously from $135.00) on shares of Advanced Energy Industries in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Advanced Energy Industries from $138.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on shares of Advanced Energy Industries from $145.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of Advanced Energy Industries from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $130.20.

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.