Westfield Capital Management Co. LP Grows Stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC)

Westfield Capital Management Co. LP boosted its holdings in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC) by 27.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 620,124 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after purchasing an additional 132,553 shares during the quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP’s holdings in Kulicke and Soffa Industries were worth $33,933,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 340.8% during 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 during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 224.6% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 672 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 120.7% during the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 779 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares in the last quarter. 98.22% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Price Performance

Shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries stock traded up $0.83 on Friday, reaching $47.15. The company had a trading volume of 713,947 shares, compared to its average volume of 437,236. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $47.77 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $49.71. Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.20 and a 1 year high of $60.20.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ:KLIC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The semiconductor company reported ($0.95) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.24 by ($1.19). Kulicke and Soffa Industries had a positive return on equity of 2.22% and a negative net margin of 8.94%. The firm had revenue of $172.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $170.20 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.38 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. will post 0.54 EPS for the current year.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 20th will be given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.70%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 20th. Kulicke and Soffa Industries’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -67.23%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Kulicke and Soffa Industries news, Director Peter T. M. Kong purchased 1,000 shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 6th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $47.51 per share, for a total transaction of $47,510.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 92,072 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,374,340.72. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.03% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on KLIC shares. TheStreet downgraded Kulicke and Soffa Industries from a “b-” rating to a “c” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. B. Riley decreased their price objective on 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. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries in a research report on Friday, May 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Kulicke and Soffa Industries currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $59.00.

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.