Semiconductor Equipment

Analysts at JP Morgan upgraded Nanometrics (NASDAQ: NANO) from “neutral” to “overweight.” Nanometrics' shares closed at $12.96 on Friday. Nanometrics' trailing-twelve-month ROE is 6.44%. Analysts at Goldman Sachs upgraded Ctrip.com International (NASDAQ: CTRP) from “neutral” to “buy.” Ctrip.com's...

Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) shares lost 4.39% to create a new 52-week low of $32.22. Analysts at Citigroup downgraded Lam Research from “buy” to “neutral.” Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE) shares fell 0.99% to touch a new 52-week low of $5.00. Bebe Stores' PEG ratio is 3.36. Pulse Electronics (NYSE:...

Analysts at Janney Capital downgraded PriceSmart (NASDAQ: PSMT) from “buy” to “neutral.” PriceSmart's shares closed at $78.22 yesterday. PriceSmart's trailing-twelve-month ROA is 9.24%. Analysts at Goldman Sachs downgraded Charles Schwab (NYSE: SCHW) from “buy” to “neutral.” Charles Schwab's stock...

Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) today announced that James W. Bagley, who has served as the company's chairman of the board of directors for the last 15 years, has decided to retire from the industry, including his position on Lam's board, effective as of the company's annual meeting of...

Goldman Sachs moves from Not Rated to Neutral on Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) and establishes a price target of $38 on shares. Goldman Sachs comments, "While Neutral rated on the stock we have a positive long-term outlook on the company as: (1) We expect the Novellus acquisition to be...

Wednesday, June 6, 2012 This is your Benzinga news summary and trader's outlook covering headlines from overnight and today's pre-market session. Benzinga's Top News Coinstar (NASDAQ: CSTR) and Seattle's Best Coffee (NASDAQ: SBUX) Sign Exclusive Agreement to Roll Out Thousands of the New Kiosks...

Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ: LRCX) and Novellus Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVLS) today announced that they have now secured all of the approvals required to proceed with the planned merger of the two companies. The transaction is expected to close after market trading hours on June 4, 2012, subject to...

Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ: NANO), a leading provider of advanced process control metrology and inspection systems, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $20 million of the company's common stock. This program follows last week's completion of...

LTX-Credence Corp (NASDAQ: LTXC) swung to a loss in the fiscal third quarter. For the current quarter, LTX-Credence expects earnings of breakeven to $0.04 per share, on revenue of $42 million to $46 million. However, analysts were expecting a loss of a penny and revenue of $38 million. LTX-...

American Eagle Outfitters Inc (NYSE: AEO) is estimated to post its Q1 earnings at $0.20 per share on revenue of $719.99 million. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: HPQ) is expected to post its Q2 EPS at $0.91 on revenue of $29.92 billion. Big Lots Inc (NYSE: BIG) is projected to post its Q1 EPS at $0...

According to a research report published this morning, J.P. Morgan has downgraded both Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) and Novellus (NASDAQ: NVLS) from Neutral to Underweight. J.P. Morgan said in the report, "[We] are downgrading LRCX/NVLS and another SemiCap stock (KLAC) to Underweight from...

FBR Capital downgraded Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) from “outperform” to “market perform.” PCX's shares closed at $3.94 yesterday. Patriot Coal's PEG ratio is -0.50. JPMorgan downgraded Lam Research Corporation (NASDAQ: LRCX) from “neutral” to “underweight.” LRCX's stock closed at $40.89...

Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ: LRCX) announced today that it entered into an accelerated stock buyback agreement ("ASB agreement") with Goldman, Sachs & Co. to repurchase an aggregate of $375 million of Lam Research common stock. The Company will acquire the common shares pursuant to the ASB...

LTX-Credence Corporation (Nasdaq: LTXC) today announced that SWINDON Silicon Systems, a supplier of analog and mixed-signal ASICs for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets, has added multiple Diamond test systems to its already extensive production base of Diamond testers. Geoff Hall,...