ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 0.6% - Here's Why

Shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) rose 0.6% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $666.07 and last traded at $653.77. Approximately 683,477 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 58% from the average daily volume of 1,615,927 shares. The stock had previously closed at $649.55.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on ASML. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $937.00.

ASML Trading Up 1.5 %

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $704.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $716.86. The firm has a market cap of $268.77 billion, a PE ratio of 32.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

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

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ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $1.5855 per share. This is an increase 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 31.35%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Kennebec Savings Bank raised its position in ASML by 227.3% during the 4th quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC increased its position in shares of ASML by 740.0% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT raised its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new stake in ASML in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 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.