ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 3.1% - Should You Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 3.1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $644.69 and last traded at $644.12. Approximately 462,758 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 1,622,763 shares. The stock had previously closed at $624.69.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASML has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th. DZ Bank raised ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $906.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $690.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $709.50. The stock has a market cap of $263.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.27, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.12 by $0.19. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. The business had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.90 billion. 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 disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be given a $1.5855 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 28th. This is a positive change from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. ASML's payout ratio is currently 27.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new stake in ASML during the third quarter worth about $52,000. Advisory Resource Group raised its stake in shares of ASML by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. Advisory Resource Group now owns 1,191 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $992,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Chelsea Counsel Co. acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $417,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 12.6% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 1,375 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,146,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. increased its holdings in ASML by 9.7% during the third quarter. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. now owns 21,599 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $17,997,000 after buying an additional 1,914 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.