Bank Hapoalim BM Reduces Stake in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC)

Bank Hapoalim BM lowered its position in KLA Co. (NASDAQ:KLAC) by 4.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,432 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock after selling 745 shares during the period. KLA makes up approximately 1.5% of Bank Hapoalim BM’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Bank Hapoalim BM’s holdings in KLA were worth $9,094,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ninety One UK Ltd boosted its position in KLA by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 62,305 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $39,260,000 after buying an additional 2,906 shares during the last quarter. Calamos Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in KLA by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Calamos Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,775 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,118,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the period. Columbus Macro LLC lifted its holdings in KLA by 479.9% in the fourth quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 5,689 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $3,585,000 after acquiring an additional 4,708 shares during the period. Childress Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in KLA by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. Childress Capital Advisors LLC now owns 479 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $302,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Finally, Optas LLC lifted its holdings in KLA by 13.8% in the fourth quarter. Optas LLC now owns 364 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $229,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.65% of the company’s stock.

KLA Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of NASDAQ:KLAC opened at $749.32 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 2.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The business has a fifty day moving average of $677.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $716.00. The stock has a market cap of $100.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.51, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.28. KLA Co. has a 52-week low of $595.86 and a 52-week high of $896.32.

KLA (NASDAQ:KLAC) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The semiconductor company reported $8.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.73 by $0.47. KLA had a return on equity of 108.60% and a net margin of 29.58%. On average, research analysts expect that KLA Co. will post 30.8 earnings per share for the current year.

KLA Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $1.70 dividend. This is a boost from KLA’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.45. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.91%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. KLA’s dividend payout ratio is presently 28.60%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on KLAC shares. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on KLA from $800.00 to $830.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Susquehanna boosted their price target on KLA from $620.00 to $655.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on KLA from $795.00 to $870.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on KLA from $800.00 to $875.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on KLA from $725.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, KLA presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $831.68.

About KLA

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.