Axcelis Technologies Inc (ACLS)

[AtlasSnuggled]

6/30 13F filers to date ~half million new long, 30 (lol) sales. Below
3/30 reports Tutes up near 4%.
Penny miss last Q kicked off at ~ 1.27
Thursday, May 2 Axcelis Tech (ACLS): Q1 EPS of -$0.08. Revenue of $40.7M misses by $7.86M.
Couple of tiny Inside sales June.

Starmine 13Q2 est -0.05
CC 8/1 after close

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[HiJames]

Eye Catcher

[rqtect]

Bot @ 1.15

[rqtect]

Wake Up Everyone We are going higher

[SPM555]

Very bullish price action as of late for $ACLS, nice consolidation on top of the 200 MA, as well as right at 6 month highs. Breakout trigger at 1.25, should be a nice play on a move above that resistance zone.

http://ichartpennystocks.com/acls-axcellis-technologies-inc-nasdaq-gm-breakout-trigger-1-25/

[ryan44]

good to see this one finally moving. :)

[Attote]

tring 1$

[interloper]

Nice ER after close, up 41.% in after hours trading at 1.10

[Specialized]

I can't predict what the earnings will be but I know from the last conference call they had said the second half of the year should be very strong. I am hoping for a nice run up.

[fortuna]

In ACLS...looks like we have a bottom bouncer. MACD and other indicators are starting to pinch and turn.

[steadymobbin]

.88 seems to have some strong support, I think we move up from here

[interloper]

No, i'm just saying the chart tells me it starting a reversal. with the conference call on 8/02 if I'm not mistaken, gives it time to run up. But with economic times as they are, how well did they do the last quarter. I'm just saying be prepared. I like the idea of it running up untill earnings report. Sell before close the day before. If news is good jump back in.

[steadymobbin]

You think it's headed lower than .80's?

[interloper]

This looks like it setting up to run into earnings and then dump on the news. If you got some .88s congrats.

[steadymobbin]

Earnings Reported August 2nd, 2012

BEVERLY, Mass., July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS) today announced it will hold its quarterly earnings call to discuss results for the second quarter 2012 on Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm ET. The call will be available to interested listeners via an audio webcast that can be accessed through the Investors page of Axcelis' website at www.axcelis.com, or by dialing 1.888.713.4211 (1.617.213.4864 outside North America). Participants calling into the conference call will be requested to provide the company name, Axcelis Technologies, and pass code: 90932672. Webcast replays will be available from 8 pm ET on August 2, 2012 until 11:59 pm on September 1, 2012.

[steadymobbin]

Looks like a nice spot to hop in to $ACLS , .88 seems to be a nice support

[Donis]

$ACLS Resistance is the MA20 for now, come on break it!

[Caerus]

ACLS bulls are in lets GO GO GO!!!!

/caerus/

[groverisproud]

Heard a few weeks back that ACLS is an acquisition target for a large semi-conductor company, but their stock price has only tanked since I heard that rumor. Has anyone else heard that and/or can anyone explain the continued drop in their stock price (beyond last week's disappointing earnings report). Thanks!

[interloper]

These Cold Stocks Are Heating Up
By Rich Duprey | More Articles
April 19, 2012 | Comments (0)

When a stock's share price is lower than a North Dakota thermometer in February, investors tend to give it the cold shoulder. But as the market warms to a stock's prospects, its price can heat up in a hurry. Alas, you can rarely tell that a stock is melting investors' hearts until after it's made that upward leap.

Taking the market's temperature
But Motley Fool CAPS' proprietary ratings, aggregated from the opinions of 180,000-plus members, offer a great way to monitor investor sentiment. Following a CAPS rating trend can help us determine the best time to invest. Let's look at previously low-rated companies that have recently enjoyed a bump in investor confidence to the top tiers and see whether they're truly heating up -- or headed back to the deep freeze.

Company
CAPS Rating
(out of 5)
Recent Price
Estimated EPS Growth Next Year

Axcelis Technologies (Nasdaq: ACLS ) *** $1.44 2,200%
Magnum Hunter Resources (NYSE: MHR ) *** $5.76 2,600%

Source: Motley Fool CAPS.

Obviously, this is not a list of stocks to buy -- just a starting point for further research. Yet if some of the best investing minds are taking notice of these stocks, maybe we should, too.

A chip on its shoulder
Axcelis Technologies' fourth-quarter results back in February were in line with management's expectations, proving that when you set your sights low enough, you can walk over any hurdle.

The semiconductor equipment maker saw revenue plunge 17% from the previous quarter and saw a profit of $1.2 million in the third quarter of 2011 turn into a $2.1 million loss, which included a $900 million charge related to European tax audits. And though investors can never count on backlog translating one-to-one into new business, new systems backlogs plunged 80% from 2010.

Although it would be tempting to say Axcelis' results were an aberration when Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT ) reported record revenues and cash flows last year, which allowed it to announce a big buyback program and up its dividend 13%, Cree (Nasdaq: CREE ) , ChipMOS Technologies, and quite a few other players in the space have run into a wall with their businesses.

But there may be a reason Axcelis' stock is rising in the estimation of investors, following the big CMOS chip order it scored last October and the follow-on order from a top semi manufacturer for one of its plasma dry strip systems.

With 89% of the CAPS members rating the equipment maker outperform, it seems they believe those wins will start paying dividends of their own. Tell us on the Axcelis Technologies CAPS page if you think it will continue chipping away at the naysayers, then add the stock to your watchlist to see how the smartphone trend plays out.

A crude assessment
When the mad rush starts, maybe it's time to step back and reassess whether you want to follow the herd. All we hear about today is how oil and gas companies are abandoning the dry gas market in favor of oil and natural gas liquids. From Chesapeake Energy to Denbury Resources (NYSE: DNR ) , the warmer weather and lousy economics of dry gas are leading them ever further into liquids. But the stampede seems to be showing up in lower prices.

Although liquids have historically offered better pricing, and that's no different today, Denbury was one that saw softness start to enter the equation last quarter. Not that it's kept it from being hopeful about its production schedule. Magnum Hunter Resources, which is in the process of acquiring even more acreage in the Williston Basin, took advantage of the warmer weather and saw its output triple in the first quarter. Oasis Petroleum doubled its output.

My concern is that now with NGLs being the "obvious" place to drill for everyone, will we see a collapse in that market -- and if not quite as bad as the dry gas market's plunge, then a precipitous one nonetheless?

While CAPS member dblshot sees the quality of Magnum's management team ultimately leading it to a buyout over the next few ears, I've rated the oil and gas play to underperform the market because I think everyone's pell-mell rush into the space will weaken it.

Add Magnum Hunter Resources to the Fool's free portfolio tracker to follow whether everyone will end up all wet from the new gold rush.

Checking the mercury
Are these stocks invitingly warm or bitterly frosty? The Motley Fool has identified rock-solid investments that will lead you to "secure your financial future." The report is free, but it's available only for a short time, so ask for your copy today and find out which dividend-paying stocks made the cut.

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Enter your email address below to find out what made Jobs so enraged!


.Fool contributor Rich Duprey holds no position in any company mentioned. Click here to see his holdings and a short bio. The Motley Fool owns shares of Denbury Resources. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Chesapeake Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.

[interloper]

Form 8-K for AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17-Apr-2012

Other Events



Item 8.01 Other Events
On February 9, 2012, the Board of Directors of Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan ("2012 Equity Plan"). On or about March 26, 2012, the Company made available a proxy statement to its stockholders describing the matters to be voted on at the Annual Meeting to be held on May 2, 2012, including the 2012 Equity Plan (Proposal 2).

The Board of Directors has amended the 2012 Equity Plan to reduce the number of shares of stock available for issuance from 6,000,000 shares to 3,800,000 shares, subject to adjustment as described in the Proxy Statement. Specifically, the first sentence of Section 4(a) of the Plan has been amended to read as follows:

"Subject to adjustment under subsection 4(b), up to an aggregate of 3,800,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued pursuant to Awards, including Incentive Stock Options, under the Plan."

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Schedule 14A Supplement to the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting regarding this amendment to the 2012 Equity Plan. There is no change in the time or place of the Annual Meeting or the record date to determine stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Except as described above, the 2012 Equity Plan and the description thereof contained in the Proxy Statement remain unchanged. The Board of Directors continues to recommend unanimously that the stockholders vote FOR the proposals listed in the Proxy Statement, as supplemented. Stockholders do not have to take any action if they have previously voted shares on the Annual Meeting proposals and do not wish to change their vote on any proposal. Stockholders wishing to change their prior votes should consult the Supplement.

[mlkrborn]

Will it double? $1.54
"Axcelis Technologies (Nasdaq: ACLS)

This maker of semiconductor fabrication equipment is also cash-rich. The company has $47 million in net cash and $215 million in tangible book value, though it's valued at just $173.5 million on the stock market.

As you'd imagine, annual results can be erratic, since Axcelis operates in a very cyclical industry. Sales averaged more than $400 million a year between 2004 and 2007, plunged below $150 million in 2009 and steadily rebounded back above the $300 million mark in 2011.

The analyst consensus figure for Axcelis appears to be too conservative, as one of the two analysts who track the stock appears to fail to account for a series of cost-cutting moves that should make the company decently profitable at current sales levels. It's hard to gauge where profits will head in coming years, because much depends on the nature of the semiconductor capital equipment spending cycle, but that 19% discount to tangible book value provides a solid floor for the stock."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/429871-3-micro-cap-value-stocks-that-could-double?source=yahoo

[Penny Roger$]

~ $ACLS ~ Earnings posted, pending or coming soon! In Charts and Links Below!

~ $ACLS ~ Earnings expected on Thursday *
This Week In Earnings: Earnings are coming or are already posted! This is what the charts look like! If you play the earnings these posts can be very helpful to you!
Want more like this? Search Keyword: MACMONEY >>> http://tinyurl.com/MACMONEY <<<
One or more of many earnings sites has alerted this security has or will be posting earnings on or around the day of this message.








http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=ACLS&p=D&b=3&g=0&id=p88783918276&a=237480049




http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=ACLS&p=W&b=3&g=0&id=p54550695994



~ Barchart: http://barchart.com/quotes/stocks/ACLS?
~ OTC Markets: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/ACLS/company-info
~ Google Finance: http://www.google.com/finance?q=ACLS
~ Google Fin Options: hhttp://www.google.com/finance/option_chain?q=ACLS#
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Stats: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=ACLS+Key+Statistics
~ Yahoo! Finance ~ Profile: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=ACLS
Finviz: http://finviz.com/quote.ashx?t=ACLS
~ BusyStock: http://busystock.com/i.php?s=ACLS&v=2
~ CandlestickChart: http://www.candlestickchart.com/cgi/chart.cgi?symbol=ACLS&exchange=US
~ Investorshub Trades: http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=trades&symbol=ACLS
~ Investorshub Board Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/getboards.aspx?searchstr=ACLS
~ Investorshub PostStream Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/poststream.aspx?ticker=ACLS
~ Investorshub Goodies Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearchbyboard.aspx?boardID=18582&srchyr=2011&SearchStr=ACLS
~ Investorshub Message Search: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/msgsearch.aspx?SearchStr=ACLS
~ MarketWatch: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/ACLS/profile
~ E-Zone Chart: http://www.windchart.com/ezone/signals/?symbol=ACLS
~ 5-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=ACLS
~ 10-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=ACLS&size=l&frequency=10&color=g
~ 30-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=ACLS&size=l&frequency=30&color=g
~ 60-Min Wind: http://www.windchart.com/stockta/analysis?symbol=ACLS&size=l&frequency=60&color=g


http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/post_prvt.aspx?user=251916

*If the earnings date is in error please ignore error. I do my best.

[BeardOfWallSt]

bullish to me =)

[mlkrborn]

Axcelis Technologies (ACLS) announced that one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers has placed follow-on orders for Integra RS plasma dry strip systems.

[H8ster]

Does anybody know why they filed a 15-12g?

[mlkrborn]

Axcelis Announces Third Quarter 2011 Results
prnewswire

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
ACLS 1.37 +0.15
Chart for Axcelis Technologies, Inc.

Press Release Source: Axcelis Technologies, Inc. On Tuesday October 25, 2011, 4:00 pm EDT

BEVERLY, Mass., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACLS - News) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Revenue for the third quarter was $72.5 million, compared with $93.4 million in Q2, and $75.1 million for the same period a year ago. Net income for the quarter was $1.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. Prior quarter net income was $4.2 million or $0.04 per diluted share, and in the prior year period, the company reported a net loss of $6.3 million or $0.06 cents per share. Cash and cash equivalents were $44.4 million on September 30, 2011.

Commenting on the Company's performance, Chairman and CEO Mary Puma said, "During the quarter Axcelis improved gross margins, reduced operating expenses, and generated $6.6M in cash, enhancing our financial position. We're operating very efficiently, despite the fact that it is a less than robust industry environment. Our investments in R&D have resulted in highly differentiated technology, driving enhanced yield and profitability for our customers, which will continue to expand our market position even during this period of soft demand."

[mlkrborn]

ACLS up 0.16 to $1.38 with earnings reporting today!

[QualityStocks]

ACLS Video Chart 8/24/11

http://ih.advfn.com/videos/stock-chart/acls-video-chart-8-24-11_vMqeAB4o4xM

Axcelis Technologies is not a current client of QualityStocks

[Kurupt]

Call it what you want ...head & shoulders, triple;double bounce this baby is moving up. Love how it closed above 1.69. Hearing BIG things about that the crew that signaled a buy to investors:


Buy at Sidoti ------ Sidoti & Company, LLC, founded in 1999, continues to set the Wall Street standard for independent small-cap equity research, while rapidly becoming a driving force in micro-cap research, launching coverage of more than 100 equities of $200 million market cap or less since inception in mid-2010.

Our analysts mine dozens of industries to provide unbiased, institutional-quality research focusing on the investment merits of profitable companies at a sub-$3 billion market cap, and we anticipate extending coverage to 700 small-cap equities by the end of 2012.

Leveraging our small-cap research lead, we continue to extend our coverage of micro-cap equities inexplicably ignored by investors but that offer favorable P/E, cash flow and low debt. Marking yet another chapter in Sidoti’s trademark of providing unmatched value to clients, we easily surpassed our goal to cover more than 100 micro-cap equities by early 2011 and have set our sights on covering 400 names by the end of 2012.

Sidoti research is exclusive to institutional investors. Our deep, experienced sales force and trading desk serve hundreds of clients in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Corporate access is an important benefit. Sidoti’s annual Investor Forums and corporate access are unrivaled, as we arrange at least 1,000 management marketing meetings per year. We take great pride in meeting FINRA and SEC requirements.

[timvic]

ACLS gained 4.29% on 07/20/11 and a total percentage of 6.25% in the past 3 days
ACLS is trading in the range of $1.48 - $1.93 in the past 30 days.
Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is bullish for ACLS.
Money Flow Index (MFI) is bullish and moving up for ACLS.
ACLS formed a bullish Price & Simple Moving Average Crossover signal.
The 10-day simple moving average is bearish and moving down for ACLS.
Average volume decrease over 5% for ACLS.
Stock performance base on day of week in the past 90 days.
Monday: -14.52%
Tuesday: 7.43%
Wednesday: 7.73%
Thursday: -24.14%
Friday: -4.74%

[mlkrborn]

ONE UPGRADE and institutional ownership pattern.
http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/ACLS/tab/8
Axelis Technologies Started At Buy By Sidoti >ACLS
Last update: 7/18/2011 12:33:02 PM

[mlkrborn]

Axcelis Lands High-Volume, Follow-On Order for Integra(TM) ES Plasma Dry Strip Systems From Major Foundry
Date : 06/28/2011 @ 8:01AM
Source : GlobeNewswire Inc.
Stock : Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (ACLS)
Quote : 1.7 0.0 (0.00%) @ 7:22AM

Axcelis Lands High-Volume, Follow-On Order for Integra(TM) ES Plasma Dry Strip Systems From Major Foundry
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:ACLS)
Intraday Stock Chart

Today : Tuesday 28 June 2011
Click Here for more Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (MM) Charts.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACLS), a leading supplier of innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry, announced today that a major foundry has selected the IntegraTM ES plasma dry strip system to support their most advanced, high-volume device manufacturing facilities. The systems have started shipping this month to multiple fabs worldwide.

"We're excited to see the growing momentum for the Integra ES as customers see the wide range of technological capabilities and manufacturing benefits the product offers," noted Bill Bintz, executive vice president of marketing and engineering for Axcelis Technologies. He continued, "The Integra ES was selected for this project because of its significant performance advantages for non-oxidizing dry strip processes over ultra-shallow junctions and sensitive, exposed high-K and metal gate materials for 2Xnm processes. The Integra ES is the only product on the market capable of delivering enhanced device performance benefits with production-proven non-oxidizing processes, along with an innovative, modular, cluster design that provides chipmakers with unprecedented manufacturing flexibility and speed. This unique combination makes it ideally suited for a high-volume foundry manufacturing environment."

Axcelis is a recognized leader in FEOL and BEOL plasma cleaning and dry strip technology. The Company's systems are known worldwide for providing innovative process solutions, exceptional reliability and low cost of ownership. Axcelis' dry strip cleaning product portfolio includes the Integra RS and ES systems as well as the RapidstripTM 320 and 210 systems. Together, these products deliver highly differentiated plasma cleaning technology to meet the full range of customer needs, from the highest productivity, non-oxidizing solutions for 32nm and below, to single chamber, small substrate size applications in the MEMS, LED, and packaging markets.

Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACLS) headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation and cleaning systems. The company's Internet address is: www.axcelis.com.

[StoxTrax]

News 6/22/2011 - Bye Bye Shorts! (LINK)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Axcelis-Celebrates-Shipment-pz-1568077654.html?x=0&.v=1

[StoxTrax]

ACLS Website UPDATED TODAY with LOTS of New Jobs (LINK)
This will pop hard and strong. Hang on to your shares longs...see the new job openings just posted!!!
http://www.axceliscareers.com/search.asp (click Search Jobs and watch what comes up!)

[StoxTrax]

This High-Tech Value Stock Could Jump 150% or More (LINK - NEWS JUST OUT!)
http://www.streetauthority.com/a/high-tech-value-stock-could-jump-150-or-more-458261

Going to be a nice day tomorrow!

[mlkrborn]

You really want to know why?
Verian to be bought by applied materials @ $63 per share. Sympathy rise ;screwing short pricks!

[StoxTrax]

This is why we are UP today and will head on to $2.50 and above

ACLS nice news..(COMTEX) B: Axcelis Technologies is Going Back in the Black as Positive Ea
rnings Are Now Expected (ACLS) ( Comtex SmarTrend(R) )
B: Axcelis Technologies is Going Back in the Black as Positive Earnings Are Now
Expected (ACLS) ( Comtex SmarTrend(R) )

May 04, 2011 (SmarTrend(R) News Watch via COMTEX) --
Axcelis Technologies (NASDAQ:ACLS), which was in the red a year ago, is
expected to turn a profit this year according to analyst expectations.

In the last fiscal year, the company lost $0.19 per share. Axcelis
Technologies is now estimated to attain profitability and earn $0.17 per
share this year, based on 106.0 million shares outstanding.

Axcelis Technologies is currently trading below its 50-day moving average of
$2.48 and trading below its 200-day moving average of $2.40.

SmarTrend currently has shares of Axcelis Technologies in an Downtrend and
issued the Downtrend alert on February 02, 2011 at $2.86. The stock has
fallen 38.5% since the Downtrend alert was issued.

Write to Chip Brian at [e-mail]

[StoxTrax]

Wait until 9:30 and watch this baby go to $2.50. When this kind of move happens with huge premarket buying, it's something big - like a buy out or new customer, etc.

[StoxTrax]

Something BIG is happening! UP 17% and more premarket!

[StoxTrax]

NEWS - today - Look for Axcelis to REBOUND

http://www.zacks.com/research/get_news.php?id=119l3045

[StoxTrax]

matt24d - can you send me your email. [e-mail] - want to private message you but don't have the higher subscription on here.
Tks.

[matt24d]

Looking at the volume someone is for sure buying today. I think we can close around 2.10 or so

[mlkrborn]

Cool. So Mats charts Co. rates it BUY!
Put a a buy order @1.86 but bypassed me!

[matt24d]

I actually added some today. My average is probably around 1.90 or so. I bought a ton of it around the 1.40 range a long time ago.

[mlkrborn]

matt; R u still in ACLS? Average? profit margin concern brought it down to $1.90. What is your take (and coffee cub reading telling you?
tia
GL
mlkr

[mlkrborn]

BOSTON based semi conductor equipment makers did well a few months ago:

Stocks up at semiconductor equipment firms
Boston Business Journal - by Kyle Alspach
Date: Friday, December 17, 2010, 4:40pm EST - Last Modified: Friday, December 17, 2010, 4:54pm EST


Publicly-traded Massachusetts semiconductor capital equipment makers have seen their shares rise by an average of 21 percent in December — led by Axcelis Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLS), which has jumped 28 percent since Dec. 1, and Brooks Automation Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKS), which is up 25 percent.

Not far behind are Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: VSEA), up 16 percent for the month, and Teradyne Inc. (NYSE: TER), which has risen 14 percent.

Fueled by consumer electronics such as the iPad and other computer tablets, manufacturers of equipment used in semiconductor chip production have had a banner year in 2010 following a major downturn in 2008 and 2009, IT tracking firm Gartner (NYSE:IT) said this week.

The Connecticut-based firm said worldwide semiconductor capital equipment spending is expected to reach $38.4 billion in 2010. That would be an increase of 131 percent over 2009, which would make 2010 the strongest growth year ever for the industry, Gartner said.

Spending on semiconductor capital equipment is expected to be essentially flat in 2011, according to the firm.

The stock rundown for Massachusetts firms in the industry:

• Beverly, Mass.-based Axcelis closed down nearly 5 percent for the day on Friday at $3.27.

• Chelmsford, Mass.-based Brooks closed up 4 percent on Friday, at $9.24.

• Gloucester, Mass.-based Varian closed up 4.7 percent for the day at $37.03.

• North Reading, Mass.-based Teradyne closed up half a percent on Friday at $13.87.

Read more: Stocks up at semiconductor equipment firms | Boston Business Journal

[mlkrborn]

Axcelis shares fall 22 percent on profit margin worries
Boston Business Journal - by Tim McLaughlin
Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 12:03pm EST - Last Modified: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 2:44pm EST
Related:
Technology
Click here to find out more!
Related News

* Axcelis execs are buyers after stock is bloodied
* Stocks up at semiconductor equipment firms
* Axcelis chief: It’s all about choices and giving back
* Delisting deadline may loom for local companies
* Axcelis to cut staff by 20 percent

Shares of Axcelis Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLS) plunged 22 percent Wednesday after the Beverly, Mass.-based maker of semiconductor equipment offered a profit forecast that disappointed some analysts.

Axcelis shares were down 80 cents, or 22 percent, to $2.79 in Wednesday afternoon trading. Trading volume approached 5 million shares, or more than triple the 3-month average.

On Tuesday, the company reported net income of $4.3 million for the fourth quarter, getting help from a one-time boost from a tax benefit. That compared with a net loss of $6.3 million in the preceding 3-month period.

Revenue in the fourth quarter surged 24 percent to $93.4 million over the prior three months. And the company ended 2010 with nearly $161 million in working capital.

But during a conference call with analysts Tuesday evening, Axcelis CEO Mary Puma said the company still needs to work on expanding its profit margins.

“We anticipate being profitable throughout 2011, and generating strong, positive cash flow,” Puma said on the conference call. “We believe that demand for semiconductor equipment will remain robust throughout the year.”

Puma said she expects year-over-year organic revenue growth in excess of 30 percent. She also expects market share gains.

Gross margins at Axcelis in the fourth quarter were 34 percent. Analysts, however, indicated during the conference call they’d like to see those margins rise above 40 percent, given the company’s revenue expansion.

“You’ve done a fabulous job of … crushing it on the top line, but the leverage on the bottom line is not been as spectacular,” said Christian Schwab, an analyst at Craig-Hallum Capital Group.

Read more: Axcelis shares fall 22 percent on profit margin worries | Boston Business Journal

[mlkrborn]

intrinsic value! ACLS now under $2.00. Why?
"Valuation of ACLS 25-Feb-11 09:53 am
I probably have to start off by saying that I sold my shareholding at $3.05 more than two months ago.
I do not usually focus on P/E as it is a bit meaningless and easily manipulated. Plus ACLS has not had a net profit for years but was still worth $6 a share at one point. And that was clearly based on fwd-looking EBITDA than on potential for net income.

So, I conducted my analysis based on revenues and EBITDA rather than on Net Income and P/E.

Clearly, nobody can predict the market for ACLS' products correctly but an estimate of 20% of top-line growth seems realistic and in line with management forecasts. Hence, my assumption for FY2011 revenues is $330.2m. Management mentioned on the call that they expect the margins to contract this year, especially in Q1. Gross margin in 2010 was 31.2% and it varied between 26.8% and 34.1% between the four quarters. For 2011, I've assumed that there is margin pressure in Q1 but gradual improvement later brings the overall margin to 32.0% or $105.7m of gross profit.
I've analysed then all the costs and assumed a very conservative R&D cost of $38.0m for the whole year. This assumption is made on the basis that the bulk of the capital cost for the new products was already made in 2008-10 ($135.4m over 3 years)and now ACLS mostly stands to gain from the sale of the products with much less R&D expenditure. I've kept G&A and S&M almost the same as this year, although they could hire more staff if revenues are to increase by 20%, so costs could be slightly higher.
EBITDA then comes to $13.4m for FY2011.
The other component for the valuation is cash flow and effectively how much is actually turned to real cash on the balance sheet.
Cash flow in ACLS' case is almost entirely driven by working capital and especially by inventories and acc receivables. The company has managed inventories relatively well, however, acc receivables are very high due to the increase in sales. With sales growth expected to continue, acc receivables would have to be managed extremely well this year.
Working capital was negative by $11.3m in 2010 due to the above-mentioned factors. However, I do expect them to focus on WC management and my calculations show a $22.5m gain from WC with the majority coming from inventory turnover and acc payables reduction in days. So, roughly we could expect this $22.5m to be added on top of the existing $45.7m of cash. I assume all other CAPEX will be funded from cash flow from operations excl. working capital.
Applying a not-so conservative multiple of 8.5x EBITDA gives us an Enterprise Value for ACLS of c. $114.0m. Add back the cash of $68.2m ($45.7m + $22.5m) and your equity value is $182.0m. This gives you a value of $1.74 per share.
Now, the caveat to this valuation is that it is very dependant on the gross profit margin being 32%. Increasing it to the maximum it has been over the last three years (34%) would give you a $2.30 per share.
However, now that management has identified a weakness in margin, going above 32% would be extremely hard.
My suggestion would be to wait for a few months until ACLS drops below $2.00 and then load. This is a good company that is suffering a temporary setback. "
post by canarywharf

[StoxTrax]

INSIDERS buying:

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/02/04/axcelis-execs-are-buyers-after-stock.html?ana=yfcpc

Same thing happened last quarter and the stock recovered the next day.