ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 0.2% - What's Next?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 0.2% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $671.00 and last traded at $668.57. Approximately 341,234 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 78% from the average daily volume of 1,553,701 shares. The stock had previously closed at $667.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASML has been the topic of several research reports. DZ Bank raised ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target 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. 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 investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $937.00.

ASML Stock Down 2.8 %

The stock has a market cap of $238.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $716.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $726.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.99.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in ASML by 56.9% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 565 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $471,000 after buying an additional 205 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its position in shares of ASML by 36.8% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 6,799 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $5,665,000 after buying an additional 1,830 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 6.8% during the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 2,332 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $1,943,000 after buying an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,373 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,139,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new position in ASML during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $52,000. 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.