Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS) Raised to Buy at Craig Hallum

Craig Hallum upgraded shares of Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have $130.00 price target on the semiconductor company's stock.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on ACLS. B. Riley dropped their price target on Axcelis Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 9th. B. Riley Financial dropped their price objective on Axcelis Technologies from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Axcelis Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $169.00.

Axcelis Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ ACLS traded up $4.81 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $111.45. 760,389 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 670,352. The company has a quick ratio of 2.71, a current ratio of 3.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. Axcelis Technologies has a 12 month low of $93.77 and a 12 month high of $201.00. The company's 50 day moving average price is $107.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $121.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.63 billion, a PE ratio of 14.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 1.64.

Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The semiconductor company reported $1.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $252.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $242.61 million. Axcelis Technologies had a return on equity of 31.14% and a net margin of 22.16%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.43 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Axcelis Technologies will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Axcelis Technologies news, EVP Douglas A. Lawson purchased 500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were bought at an average price of $111.04 per share, for a total transaction of $55,520.00. Following the purchase, the executive vice president now owns 19,648 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,181,713.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.43% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axcelis Technologies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ACLS. Rakuten Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Axcelis Technologies by 109.4% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 266 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new stake in Axcelis Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors own 89.98% of the company's stock.

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.