Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ:KLIC) Hits New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KLIC - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $29.53 and last traded at $29.55, with a volume of 927727 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $33.87.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

KLIC has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $53.00 price target on shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $52.00.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Stock Performance

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $37.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $43.45. The firm has a market cap of $1.48 billion, a PE ratio of 230.42 and a beta of 1.50.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries (NASDAQ:KLIC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The semiconductor company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.28 by ($0.01). Kulicke and Soffa Industries had a net margin of 0.48% and a negative return on equity of 1.26%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. will post 0.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be paid a $0.205 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $0.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.97%. Kulicke and Soffa Industries's payout ratio is presently 683.33%.

Institutional Trading of Kulicke and Soffa Industries

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new position in Kulicke and Soffa Industries during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 61.0% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 387 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 35.5% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,061 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio purchased a new position in shares of Kulicke and Soffa Industries in the third quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Kulicke and Soffa Industries by 397.4% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,149 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 918 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.22% of the company's stock.

About Kulicke and Soffa Industries

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells capital equipment and tools used to assemble semiconductor devices. It operates through four segments: Ball Bonding Equipment, Wedge Bonding Equipment, Advanced Solutions, and Aftermarket Products and Services (APS). The company offers ball bonding equipment, wafer level bonding equipment, wedge bonding equipment; and advanced display, die-attach, and thermocompression systems and solutions, as well as tools, spares and services for equipment.