Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI) Shares Down 6.1%

Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI) shares fell 6.1% to $16.07, with trading volume down 54% from average levels. Analysts have mixed views, with price targets ranging from $13 to $30. The company reported a quarterly EPS of ($0.02), beating estimates, and revenue of $99.86 million, up 145.5% year-over-year. Insider trading activity included significant sales by executives. Institutional investors have increased their stakes, with 61.72% of shares held by them. The consensus rating for the stock is "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $22.00.

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAOI - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 6.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $16.04 and last traded at $16.07. 1,508,545 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 54% from the average session volume of 3,298,132 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.11.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Applied Optoelectronics earnings dumper, pain now for gain later?

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Rosenblatt Securities lifted their price objective on shares of Applied Optoelectronics to $30.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Raymond James dropped their price target on Applied Optoelectronics from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 9th. B. Riley raised Applied Optoelectronics from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $13.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, March 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Applied Optoelectronics from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $22.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Applied Optoelectronics

Applied Optoelectronics Stock Down 5.0%

Is the Microsoft Deal Driving Applied Optoelectronics 300% Gain?

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.61. The stock has a market cap of $903.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.89 and a beta of 2.55. The business's 50 day moving average is $14.56 and its 200 day moving average is $24.22.

Applied Optoelectronics (NASDAQ:AAOI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The semiconductor company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.04) by $0.02. The business had revenue of $99.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $99.37 million. Applied Optoelectronics had a negative return on equity of 22.36% and a negative net margin of 38.61%. Applied Optoelectronics's revenue was up 145.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($0.31) earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. will post -1.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Applied Optoelectronics

Applied Optoelectronics Stock is a Low Priced Photonics Play

In related news, insider Hung-Lun (Fred) Chang sold 23,837 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.06, for a total transaction of $454,333.22. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 278,842 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,314,728.52. This trade represents a 7.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Stefan J. Murry sold 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.06, for a total value of $46,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 196,581 shares in the company, valued at $4,533,157.86. This trade represents a 1.01% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 39,263 shares of company stock valued at $740,590 over the last three months. 4.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Optoelectronics

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AAOI. AlphaQuest LLC raised its position in Applied Optoelectronics by 243.9% during the first quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 2,297 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,629 shares in the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Applied Optoelectronics during the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Applied Optoelectronics by 858.2% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,284 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,150 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Applied Optoelectronics in the fourth quarter worth $63,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Applied Optoelectronics in the first quarter worth $66,000. 61.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Applied Optoelectronics Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China. It offers optical modules, optical filters, lasers, laser components, subassemblies, transmitters and transceivers, turn-key equipment, headend, node, distribution equipment, and amplifiers.

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