Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. Raises Position in Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZPN)

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in Aspen Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:AZPN) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 170,350 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 2,518 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 0.27% of Aspen Technology worth $42,524,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AZPN. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Aspen Technology in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its stake in Aspen Technology by 965.0% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 213 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Aspen Technology by 5,700.0% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 232 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in Aspen Technology by 30.1% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 251 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Aspen Technology by 126.9% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 270 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. 45.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Aspen Technology Stock Performance

AZPN stock opened at $264.33 on Friday. Aspen Technology, Inc. has a one year low of $171.25 and a one year high of $277.37. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $261.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $247.69. The firm has a market cap of $16.73 billion, a PE ratio of 3,304.54, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.73.

Aspen Technology (NASDAQ:AZPN) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The technology company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.85 by $0.03. Aspen Technology had a net margin of 0.54% and a return on equity of 3.17%. Equities research analysts predict that Aspen Technology, Inc. will post 6.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Aspen Technology in a research note on Friday. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $265.00 target price (down from $275.00) on shares of Aspen Technology in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Baird R W lowered shares of Aspen Technology from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Loop Capital raised shares of Aspen Technology from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $265.00 to $315.00 in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of Aspen Technology from $240.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $272.00.

About Aspen Technology

Aspen Technology, Inc provides industrial software that focuses on helping customers in asset-intensive industries worldwide. The company’s solutions address complex environments where it is critical to optimize the asset design, operation, and maintenance lifecycle. Its software is used in performance engineering, modeling and design, supply chain management, predictive and prescriptive maintenance, digital grid management, and industrial data management.