ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 2.1% - Still a Buy?

Shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) were up 2.1% on Monday . The company traded as high as $652.85 and last traded at $618.34. Approximately 1,642,837 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 4% from the average daily volume of 1,581,091 shares. The stock had previously closed at $605.55.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced 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. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report 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 report on Monday, January 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $937.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average of $707.47 and a 200 day moving average of $720.01. 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 $262.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67.

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ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results 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%. On average, analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its position in shares of ASML by 68.9% in the 4th quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 2,128 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,475,000 after buying an additional 868 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division bought a new position in shares of ASML during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,174,000. State Street Corp increased its stake in ASML by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 140,802 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $117,323,000 after purchasing an additional 7,010 shares in the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in ASML by 36.7% during the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,322 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $18,243,000 after purchasing an additional 7,073 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in ASML by 12.2% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 9,759 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $6,764,000 after buying an additional 1,062 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

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.