ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 0.2% - Here's What Happened

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) was down 0.2% during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $696.28 and last traded at $708.73. Approximately 595,055 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average daily volume of 1,452,766 shares. The stock had previously closed at $710.26.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,000.00 to $790.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Susquehanna dropped their price objective on ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 11th. Berenberg Bank raised ASML to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $943.83.

ASML Stock Down 0.6 %

The business has a 50 day moving average of $700.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $843.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $277.63 billion, a PE ratio of 36.95, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.55.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $5.80 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.24 by $0.56. ASML had a net margin of 26.40% and a return on equity of 47.61%. The business had revenue of $8.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. Analysts predict that ASML Holding will post 20.68 EPS for the current year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 29th were issued a $1.407 dividend. This represents a $5.63 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 29th. ASML's dividend payout ratio is currently 29.21%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Lantz Financial LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the second quarter worth about $216,000. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $224,000. Diversified LLC purchased a new stake in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $274,000. LRI Investments LLC increased its stake in ASML by 2,186.8% during the 2nd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 869 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $888,000 after purchasing an additional 831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Insight Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of ASML by 0.5% in the second quarter. Capital Insight Partners LLC now owns 4,155 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $4,249,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.