Short Interest in Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) Rises By 140.8%

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLS) was the target of a large growth in short interest in October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,310,000 shares, a growth of 140.8% from the October 15th total of 1,790,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 603,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 7.1 days. Currently, 13.5% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Axcelis Technologies Stock Performance

Axcelis Technologies stock opened at $79.72 on Thursday. Axcelis Technologies has a fifty-two week low of $79.07 and a fifty-two week high of $158.61. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $96.07 and its 200-day moving average price is $113.11. The stock has a market cap of $2.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 3.29 and a current ratio of 4.45.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Axcelis Technologies

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACLS. Homestead Advisers Corp purchased a new position in Axcelis Technologies in the 1st quarter worth $1,227,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its stake in shares of Axcelis Technologies by 40.0% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 23,751 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,490,000 after acquiring an additional 6,786 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Axcelis Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $791,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. grew its position in Axcelis Technologies by 309.0% during the 2nd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 17,549 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,495,000 after acquiring an additional 13,258 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Annex Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Axcelis Technologies by 72.0% during the 3rd quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 12,226 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,282,000 after acquiring an additional 5,118 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.98% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ACLS. B. Riley reduced their price target on Axcelis Technologies from $190.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Benchmark downgraded shares of Axcelis Technologies from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “hold” rating on shares of Axcelis Technologies in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $167.33.

About Axcelis Technologies

Axcelis Technologies, Inc designs, manufactures, and services ion implantation and other processing equipment used in the fabrication of semiconductor chips in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company offers high energy, high current, and medium current implanters for various application requirements.