ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 1.9% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) shares shot up 1.9% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $733.13 and last traded at $728.07. 477,859 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 68% from the average session volume of 1,511,547 shares. The stock had previously closed at $714.84.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on ASML. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. DZ Bank raised shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 29th. Finally, BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 price target for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ASML has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $937.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $288.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $733.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $747.14.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. Analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 11th were given a dividend of $1.5855 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 11th. This is a boost from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. ASML’s payout ratio is 31.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Aegis Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in ASML during the 4th quarter worth about $468,000. Probity Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in ASML during the 4th quarter worth about $238,000. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH lifted its position in ASML by 2,336.6% during the 4th quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 34,210 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $23,710,000 after buying an additional 32,806 shares in the last quarter. Cim LLC lifted its position in ASML by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 2,425 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,681,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn FI LLC bought a new stake in shares of ASML in the 4th quarter valued at about $963,000. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies.