ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 3.7% - Here's Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) was up 3.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $622.86 and last traded at $617.41. Approximately 833,419 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 48% from the average daily volume of 1,594,854 shares. The stock had previously closed at $595.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on ASML. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Two equities 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $937.00.

ASML Stock Up 3.0 %

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 firm has a market capitalization of $263.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $706.22 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $718.97.

Remove Ads

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

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Monday, April 28th will be given a dividend of $1.5855 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 28th. This is an increase from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. ASML's payout ratio is currently 31.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kennebec Savings Bank boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 227.3% in the fourth 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 boosted its position in ASML by 740.0% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ASML during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT increased its holdings in ASML by 133.3% in the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 56 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of ASML in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. 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.