ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Sold by Pictet Asset Management Holding SA

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA trimmed its position in shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 8.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,869 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after selling 1,273 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA's holdings in ASML were worth $9,612,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Carnegie Investment Counsel boosted its position in shares of ASML by 68.9% during the 4th quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 2,128 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,475,000 after acquiring an additional 868 shares during the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in ASML during the fourth quarter worth about $1,174,000. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in ASML by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 140,802 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $117,323,000 after purchasing an additional 7,010 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of ASML by 36.7% in the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,322 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $18,243,000 after buying an additional 7,073 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 12.2% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 9,759 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $6,764,000 after buying an additional 1,062 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently weighed in on ASML. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $937.00.

ASML Stock Down 2.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ ASML traded down $17.67 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $605.55. 4,014,396 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,580,630. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $716.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $726.00. 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 company has a market cap of $238.24 billion, a PE ratio of 29.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. ASML Holding has a twelve month low of $597.69 and a twelve month high of $1,110.09.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last posted 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 net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. Research analysts predict that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

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

ASML 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.