Cibc World Market Inc. Raises Stock Holdings in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC)

Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC) by 80.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,451 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after purchasing an additional 15,352 shares during the quarter. Cibc World Market Inc.’s holdings in KLA were worth $21,708,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in KLA during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of KLA in the third quarter worth about $38,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in KLA during the third quarter worth about $53,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in KLA during the third quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Finally, Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in KLA in the third quarter valued at approximately $58,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.65% of the company’s stock.

KLA Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of KLAC opened at $738.24 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $673.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $718.67. KLA Co. has a one year low of $581.70 and a one year high of $896.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 2.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $98.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.71, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.27.

KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The semiconductor company reported $8.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.73 by $0.47. KLA had a net margin of 28.92% and a return on equity of 105.16%. Equities research analysts forecast that KLA Co. will post 30.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

KLA Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.70 dividend. This represents a $6.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.92%. This is a positive change from KLA’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.45. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. KLA’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 28.60%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on KLAC. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of KLA from $746.00 to $703.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. StockNews.com lowered shares of KLA from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 27th. Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of KLA from $620.00 to $655.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on KLA from $800.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on KLA from $760.00 to $725.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $829.32.

KLA Profile

KLA Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of process control, process-enabling, and yield management solutions for the semiconductor and related electronics industries worldwide. It operates through three segments: Semiconductor Process Control; Specialty Semiconductor Process; and PCB and Component Inspection.