Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ:AEIS) Hits New 1-Year High on Analyst Upgrade

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday after Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on the stock from $270.00 to $310.00. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock. Advanced Energy Industries traded as high as $281.38 and last traded at $277.3650, with a volume of 22271 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $273.26.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on AEIS. Robert W. Baird set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Energy Industries in a report on Monday, October 27th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Advanced Energy Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 1st. Citigroup increased their price target on Advanced Energy Industries from $167.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Susquehanna upgraded Advanced Energy Industries from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, KeyCorp set a $290.00 target price on shares of Advanced Energy Industries in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $259.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Paul R. Oldham sold 8,174 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $203.11, for a total value of $1,660,221.14. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 24,792 shares in the company, valued at $5,035,503.12. This represents a 24.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Tina Donikowski sold 2,257 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $210.33, for a total transaction of $474,714.81. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,734,801.84. The trade was a 21.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Energy Industries

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 92.4% in the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 152 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Advanced Energy Industries by 203.5% in the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 173 shares of the electronics maker’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Advanced Energy Industries during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 98.3% during the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 234 shares of the electronics maker’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Energy Industries in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Advanced Energy Industries Trading Up 1.6%

The business’s fifty day moving average is $232.92 and its 200-day moving average is $194.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 3.01 and a current ratio of 4.10. The firm has a market cap of $10.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 72.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.41.

Advanced Energy Industries Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 23rd. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.1%. Advanced Energy Industries’s dividend payout ratio is 10.50%.

Advanced Energy Industries Company Profile

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc is a global technology company specializing in precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions. The company designs and manufactures a broad portfolio of products including high-voltage power supplies, RF and microwave generators, digital power controllers, reactive gas control systems, and thin film measurement instruments. These solutions enable advanced processes in semiconductor fabrication, flat panel display manufacturing, industrial coating, data storage, telecommunications and medical device production.

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, Advanced Energy has grown through strategic product development and international expansion.