ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 0.2% – Here’s What Happened

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) was up 0.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $671.00 and last traded at $668.57. 341,234 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 78% from the average session volume of 1,553,701 shares. The stock had previously closed at $667.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ASML. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ASML has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $937.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The firm’s 50 day moving average is $723.68 and its 200-day moving average is $729.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market cap of $265.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 EPS 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%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be paid a $1.5855 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 28th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 31.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Confluence Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in ASML during the 1st quarter worth about $781,000. 111 Capital bought a new position in shares of ASML during the 4th quarter worth approximately $482,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of ASML by 89.0% during the 4th quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 2,659 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,843,000 after buying an additional 1,252 shares during the last quarter. Aegis Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $468,000. Finally, Probity Advisors Inc. bought a new position in ASML during the 4th quarter worth $238,000. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Company Profile

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.