Semiconductor Equipment

US stock futures are higher this morning, as investors are awaiting economic data. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 49 points to 11,812 and S&P 500 index futures rose 5.90 points to 1,211.90. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 8.75 points to 2,237.75. US stocks closed lower on...

Piper Jaffray has raised the price target on Nanometrics (NASDAQ: NANO) from $15 to $17 and maintains its Neutral rating.

Lam Research Corp (NASDAQ: LRCX) agreed to buy Novellus Systems Inc (NASDAQ: NVLS) for $3.3 billion in stock. Under the trems of the deal, stockholders of NVLS will receive 1.125 shares of Lam Research common stock for each Novellus share held, representing a 28% premium over the stock's closing...

Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.3 billion. The combined enterprise, which will retain the name of Lam Research Corp., will be a...

In a note out today, Oppenheimer reiterated an outperform rating and $22 price target on Nanometrics (Nasdaq: NANO), the maker of metrology systems used primarily in the fabrication of semiconductors. “Our price target of $22 is now based on 1.2x price to sales. External factors such as Hynix's...

Deutsche Bank has initiated coverage on the following companies: Amkor Technologies (NASDAQ: AMKR) Hold, $4 PT Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) Hold, $10 PT KLA-Tencor (NASDAQ: KLAC) Hold, $38 PT Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) Buy, $45 PT Novellus Systems (NASDAQ: NVLS) Hold, $33 PT Teradyne (...

Stifel Nicolaus maintains its Buy rating and $22 target price on Nanometrics Inc. (NASDAQ: NANO) after the company announced the acquisition of privately held Nanda Technologies for $23 million in cash. According to Stifel, “On the positive side, we believe that this deal provides entry for...

Hormel Foods Corp (NYSE: HRL) reported a decline in its Q4 net earnings. Hormel Foods' quarterly net earnings fell to $117.3 million, or $0.43 per share, from $121.1 million, or $0.45 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales dropped to $2.1 billion from $2.06 billion. However, analysts were...

LTX Credence Corp (NASDAQ: LTXC) reported a wider-than-expected first-quarter loss. LTX Credence projects Q2 loss of $0.15 to $0.20 per share on revenue of $26 to $30 million. Analysts were projecting a loss of $0.07 per share on revenue of $35.6 million. LTX Credence posted a quarterly loss of $...

According to Piper Jaffray, Nanometrics (NASDAQ: NANO) Neutral rating is maintained. Piper Jaffray said that NANO announced the acquisition of Nanda Technologies, a German start-up that manufactures macro defect inspection equipment. “The acquisition make us incrementally more positive on the...

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) is estimated to report its Q4 EPS at $0.42 on revenue of $2.11 billion. Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) is projected to report its FQ1 EPS at $0.79 on revenue of $2.21 billlion. Medtronic Inc (NYSE: MDT) is projected to report its Q2 EPS at $0.82 on revenue...

This is your Benzinga news summary and traders' summary for Monday, November 21, 2011, covering headlines from Monday's trading session. Today at market close, the Dow Jones Index traded down about 248.85 points or 2.11%, the S&P 500 traded 1.86% lower, the Nasdaq Composite Index traded down 1...

Nanometrics Incorporated (Nasdaq: NANO) today announced the acquisition of Nanda Technologies, GmbH of Munich, Germany. Nanda has developed a high-throughput, high-sensitivity defect inspection technology for semiconductor manufacturing. With this acquisition, Nanometrics adds a highly...

Shares of Nanometrics (NASDAQ: NANO) are lower on the session by 1.66%, currently trading at $16.60. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past three weeks, though it is currently trading below the 50-day moving average. Options traders are focusing on calls today. A short while ago...

Piper Jaffray is out with its report today on Nanonmetrics (NASDAQ: NANO), downgrading NANO from Overweight to Neutral. In its report, Piper Jaffray writes, "We are moving from Overweight to Neutral and lowering our price target to $15. NANO reported an in-line quarter, but Q4 revenue is expected...