Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $29.20.

Several research analysts have recently commented on AAOI shares. Rosenblatt Securities lifted their price objective on Applied Optoelectronics from $27.50 to $44.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. B. Riley downgraded Applied Optoelectronics from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $14.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Northland Securities restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $40.00 target price (up previously from $25.00) on shares of Applied Optoelectronics in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Applied Optoelectronics from $17.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 20th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Applied Optoelectronics to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th.

Insider Activity at Applied Optoelectronics

In related news, Director William H. Yeh sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.08, for a total transaction of $430,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 223,538 shares in the company, valued at $9,630,017.04. The trade was a 4.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Stefan J. Murry sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.56, for a total transaction of $157,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 216,129 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,821,031.24. The trade was a 2.26 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 86,769 shares of company stock worth $3,015,537 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Applied Optoelectronics

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in shares of Applied Optoelectronics by 272.1% in the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 9,281 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 6,787 shares during the period. Pingora Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Optoelectronics during the third quarter valued at approximately $82,000. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Applied Optoelectronics by 3,290.6% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,137 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 5,956 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Applied Optoelectronics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $89,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Applied Optoelectronics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $109,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.72% of the company’s stock.

Applied Optoelectronics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AAOI opened at $37.74 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market cap of $1.77 billion, a PE ratio of -18.32 and a beta of 2.37. The company’s fifty day moving average is $29.88 and its 200 day moving average is $17.64. Applied Optoelectronics has a 52 week low of $6.70 and a 52 week high of $44.50.

About Applied Optoelectronics

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China. It offers optical modules, optical filters, lasers, laser components, subassemblies, transmitters and transceivers, turn-key equipment, headend, node, distribution equipment, and amplifiers.