Wasatch Advisors LP Cuts Position in Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC)

Wasatch Advisors LP reduced its stake in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC) by 24.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 403,671 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 128,779 shares during the period. Wasatch Advisors LP owned approximately 0.72% of Kulicke and Soffa Industries worth $22,089,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 340.8% in the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 573 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 443 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 224.6% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 672 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries during the 4th quarter worth $40,000. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 120.7% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 779 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 426 shares in the last quarter. 98.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Price Performance

Shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries stock traded down $0.38 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $45.03. 2,823 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 455,351. Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.20 and a twelve month high of $60.20. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $46.99 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.58.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ:KLIC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The semiconductor company reported ($0.95) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.24 by ($1.19). The firm had revenue of $172.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $170.20 million. Kulicke and Soffa Industries had a negative net margin of 8.94% and a positive return on equity of 2.22%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.38 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. will post 0.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 20th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 20th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.78%. Kulicke and Soffa Industries’s payout ratio is currently -67.23%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. B. Riley reduced their price target on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries from $54.00 to $47.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $59.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kulicke and Soffa Industries

In related news, Director Peter T. M. Kong acquired 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $47.51 per share, for a total transaction of $47,510.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 92,072 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,374,340.72. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.