ABC Arbitrage SA Invests $1.53 Million in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new stake in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,200 shares of the semiconductor company's stock, valued at approximately $1,525,000.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of ASML by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 26,866 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $22,386,000 after buying an additional 669 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of ASML by 38.1% in the 3rd quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 116 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in shares of ASML by 285.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 7,101 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $5,917,000 after buying an additional 5,259 shares in the last quarter. B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at $737,000. Finally, Good Life Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of ASML by 52.1% in the 3rd quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 324 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Stock Performance

NASDAQ:ASML traded down $7.33 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $744.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,713,748 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,838,624. ASML Holding has a twelve month low of $645.45 and a twelve month high of $1,110.09. The stock has a market cap of $292.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.78, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.47. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $730.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $760.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 11th will be given a dividend of $1.5855 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 11th. This is an increase from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 price objective for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $937.00.

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.