ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading 2% Higher - Still a Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 2% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $678.32 and last traded at $671.42. Approximately 479,094 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 1,629,511 shares. The stock had previously closed at $657.98.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on ASML shares. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Susquehanna lowered their target price on ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $906.00.

ASML Stock Up 0.3 %

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $687.38 and a 200-day moving average of $706.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $266.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.12 by $0.19. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. The business had revenue of $8.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.90 billion. On average, equities research analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.5855 per share. This is a positive change from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 28th. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.48%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Putney Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 322.2% in the first quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank grew its stake in shares of ASML by 227.3% during the fourth quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC grew its stake in shares of ASML by 740.0% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Albion Financial Group UT lifted its holdings in ASML by 133.3% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 56 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.