ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 0.2% After Analyst Downgrade

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 0.2% during mid-day trading on Friday after Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on the stock from $815.00 to $767.00. Sanford C. Bernstein currently has an outperform rating on the stock. ASML traded as low as $659.61 and last traded at $670.48. Approximately 1,231,751 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 38% from the average daily volume of 1,985,718 shares. The stock had previously closed at $671.97.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley cut ASML from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. UBS Group cut shares of ASML from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Berenberg Bank raised ASML to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price target on ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $961.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ASML in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new stake in ASML during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ASML during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of ASML in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, First Community Trust NA acquired a new position in shares of ASML in the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average price of $732.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $865.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market cap of $270.13 billion, a PE ratio of 35.95, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.51.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $5.80 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.24 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $8.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.66 billion. ASML had a net margin of 26.40% and a return on equity of 47.61%. Sell-side analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 20.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 29th were paid a $1.407 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 29th. This represents a $5.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.21%.

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.