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

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $714.36, but opened at $751.06. ASML shares last traded at $754.40, with a volume of 408,292 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 price target on the stock. Berenberg Bank raised shares of ASML to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on ASML from $1,000.00 to $790.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their target price 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, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ASML currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $943.83.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $693.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $815.68. The company has a market capitalization of $302.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.24, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $5.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.24 by $0.56. The business had revenue of $8.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.61% and a net margin of 26.40%. As a group, analysts anticipate that ASML Holding will post 20.68 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 29th were issued a $1.407 dividend. This represents a $5.63 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, October 29th. ASML's payout ratio is 29.21%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ASML during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV purchased a new position in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 46.9% in the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 47 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently 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.