Commonwealth Equity Services LLC Makes New Investment in Helios Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIO)

Commonwealth Equity Services LLC acquired a new stake in Helios Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:HLIO) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 11,577 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $517,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Helios Technologies in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $224,000. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Helios Technologies by 321.2% during the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 6,705 shares of the company’s stock valued at $299,000 after buying an additional 5,113 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Helios Technologies by 10.0% in the fourth quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 6,765 shares of the company’s stock worth $302,000 after buying an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Helios Technologies during the fourth quarter worth $315,000. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC grew its stake in Helios Technologies by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 8,955 shares of the company’s stock valued at $400,000 after acquiring an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.72% of the company’s stock.

Helios Technologies Price Performance

Shares of Helios Technologies stock opened at $26.45 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $880.78 million, a PE ratio of 23.41 and a beta of 1.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $38.13 and a 200 day moving average of $44.63. The company has a current ratio of 3.03, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. Helios Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $24.90 and a 12 month high of $57.29.

Helios Technologies announced that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Monday, February 24th that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 7.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Helios Technologies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 4th will be given a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 4th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.36%. Helios Technologies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Helios Technologies from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th.

Helios Technologies Profile

Helios Technologies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides engineered motion control and electronic control technology solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Hydraulics and Electronics. The Hydraulics segment offers cartridge valve technology products to control rates and direction of fluid flow, and to regulate and control pressures for industrial and mobile applications; hydraulic quick release coupling solutions for the agriculture, construction equipment, and industrial markets; motion control technology and fluid conveyance technology; cartridge valve technology; engineered solutions for machine users, manufacturers, or designers.