ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading 1.9% Higher - Here's What Happened

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price rose 1.9% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $754.60 and last traded at $750.68. Approximately 718,970 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 64% from the average daily volume of 2,005,653 shares. The stock had previously closed at $736.99.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday. Susquehanna dropped their price target on shares of 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. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced 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. Finally, BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 target price on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $937.00.

ASML Price Performance

The stock's fifty day moving average price is $718.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $777.78. The firm has a market cap of $290.86 billion, a PE ratio of 35.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 50.53%. As a group, equities analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Monday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $1.6414 per share. This is an increase from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.41. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 28th. This represents a $6.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.83%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Callahan Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of ASML by 24.5% during the 4th quarter. Callahan Advisors LLC now owns 7,292 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $5,054,000 after acquiring an additional 1,434 shares during the period. BKM Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in ASML by 15.6% during the fourth quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,110 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $769,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in ASML in the 4th quarter valued at about $92,000. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS now owns 25,039 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $17,354,000 after buying an additional 274 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of ASML by 113.7% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,098 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $3,534,000 after buying an additional 2,712 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.