Lafayette Investments Inc. Boosts Stock Position in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)

Lafayette Investments Inc. increased its stake in ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 128.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,179 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after purchasing an additional 662 shares during the period. Lafayette Investments Inc.'s holdings in ASML were worth $817,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of ASML. Kennebec Savings Bank increased its stake in ASML by 227.3% in the 4th quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC grew its holdings 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 worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ASML in the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Albion Financial Group UT raised its holdings in ASML by 133.3% during the 4th 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new stake in ASML during the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Stock Performance

NASDAQ:ASML traded up $5.23 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $640.16. 1,439,309 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,630,852. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $697.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $713.47. The firm has a market cap of $251.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. ASML Holding has a one year low of $578.51 and a one year high of $1,110.09.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.12 by $0.19. ASML had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. The business had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.90 billion. Research analysts anticipate that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.