BNP Paribas Financial Markets Cuts Stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lowered its stake in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC - Free Report) by 61.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,075 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after selling 23,930 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in Kulicke and Soffa Industries were worth $703,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 35.5% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,061 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 397.4% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,149 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 918 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 43.4% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,225 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 27.0% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,041 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $95,000 after buying an additional 434 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.22% of the company's stock.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Stock Down 0.7%

KLIC traded down $0.24 on Wednesday, hitting $32.45. The company's stock had a trading volume of 28,565 shares, compared to its average volume of 617,577. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $32.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $40.17. The firm has a market cap of $1.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 270.38 and a beta of 1.53. Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. has a 12 month low of $26.63 and a 12 month high of $53.71.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ:KLIC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The semiconductor company reported ($0.52) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.19 by ($0.71). Kulicke and Soffa Industries had a net margin of 0.48% and a negative return on equity of 1.26%. The company had revenue of $161.99 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $165.10 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.95) EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. will post 0.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were issued a $0.205 dividend. This represents a $0.82 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.53%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 20th. Kulicke and Soffa Industries's payout ratio is 227.78%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries from $50.00 to $36.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Wall Street Zen raised Kulicke and Soffa Industries from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. DA Davidson decreased their target price on Kulicke and Soffa Industries from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries from $53.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $44.50.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Company Profile

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells capital equipment and tools used to assemble semiconductor devices. It operates through four segments: Ball Bonding Equipment, Wedge Bonding Equipment, Advanced Solutions, and Aftermarket Products and Services (APS). The company offers ball bonding equipment, wafer level bonding equipment, wedge bonding equipment; and advanced display, die-attach, and thermocompression systems and solutions, as well as tools, spares and services for equipment.