Exane Asset Management Makes New $1.34 Million Investment in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC)

Exane Asset Management purchased a new stake in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,048 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,336,000. KLA makes up about 0.7% of Exane Asset Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Triasima Portfolio Management inc. purchased a new position in KLA in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,072,000. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. boosted its position in KLA by 164.4% during the fourth quarter. Lecap Asset Management Ltd. now owns 4,321 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $2,723,000 after acquiring an additional 2,687 shares during the last quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. grew its stake in KLA by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 22,947 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $14,459,000 after acquiring an additional 772 shares during the period. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new position in KLA in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd lifted its stake in shares of KLA by 18.6% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 16,716 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $10,533,000 after purchasing an additional 2,626 shares during the period. 86.65% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

KLA Trading Down 1.9 %

NASDAQ KLAC opened at $747.70 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $685.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $716.53. The stock has a market cap of $100.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.44, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.28. KLA Co. has a 52 week low of $608.16 and a 52 week high of $896.32. The company has a current ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The semiconductor company reported $8.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.73 by $0.47. KLA had a net margin of 29.58% and a return on equity of 108.60%. Equities research analysts predict that KLA Co. will post 30.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on KLA from $800.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Oppenheimer raised shares of KLA from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $750.00 to $850.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Susquehanna raised their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of KLA from $795.00 to $870.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of KLA from $760.00 to $725.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $831.68.

KLA Company 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.