Dean Investment Associates LLC Raises Holdings in Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS)

Dean Investment Associates LLC increased its position in Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEIS - Free Report) by 47.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 52,874 shares of the electronics maker's stock after purchasing an additional 17,057 shares during the quarter. Advanced Energy Industries makes up about 0.9% of Dean Investment Associates LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Dean Investment Associates LLC owned about 0.14% of Advanced Energy Industries worth $6,114,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Stifel Financial Corp increased its position in Advanced Energy Industries by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 10,752 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $1,132,000 after buying an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 1.7% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 884,402 shares of the electronics maker's stock valued at $93,094,000 after acquiring an additional 15,030 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 19.9% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 6,669 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $702,000 after purchasing an additional 1,107 shares during the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC raised its position in shares of Advanced Energy Industries by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 403,679 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $42,483,000 after purchasing an additional 23,395 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Advanced Energy Industries by 12.4% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 483,848 shares of the electronics maker's stock worth $50,920,000 after purchasing an additional 53,566 shares in the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Advanced Energy Industries Stock Performance

AEIS traded up $2.03 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $88.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 50,836 shares, compared to its average volume of 251,260. Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. has a one year low of $75.01 and a one year high of $132.16. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $103.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $110.72. The company has a quick ratio of 3.27, a current ratio of 4.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market cap of $3.34 billion, a PE ratio of 61.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.47.

Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ:AEIS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The electronics maker reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.09 by ($0.03). Advanced Energy Industries had a return on equity of 8.90% and a net margin of 3.66%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. will post 3.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Advanced Energy Industries Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.45%. Advanced Energy Industries's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.97%.

Insider Activity

In related news, COO Eduardo Bernal Acebedo sold 19,309 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.61, for a total value of $2,155,077.49. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 19,822 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,212,333.42. The trade was a 49.34 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Lanesha Minnix sold 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.37, for a total transaction of $206,992.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,492 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $451,760.04. This trade represents a 31.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on AEIS shares. Citigroup raised shares of Advanced Energy Industries from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $110.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Advanced Energy Industries from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Advanced Energy Industries from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $145.00 price objective on shares of Advanced Energy Industries in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Advanced Energy Industries from $138.00 to $136.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $126.56.

About Advanced Energy Industries

Advanced Energy Industries, Inc provides precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions in the United States and internationally. The company's plasma power products offer solutions to enable innovation for semiconductor and thin film plasma processes, such as dry etch and deposition.