ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 1.1% - Here's Why

Shares of ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) rose 1.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $713.49 and last traded at $708.20. Approximately 301,145 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 1,636,450 shares. The stock had previously closed at $700.39.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut 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. Susquehanna dropped their price target on ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, DZ Bank raised shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $906.00.

ASML Trading Up 1.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.53. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $679.07 and a two-hundred day moving average of $701.98. The company has a market cap of $278.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.75.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.12 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $8.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.90 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. On average, equities research analysts predict that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Carnegie Investment Counsel grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 68.9% in the fourth quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 2,128 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $1,475,000 after acquiring an additional 868 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in ASML by 36.7% during the fourth quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,322 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $18,243,000 after acquiring an additional 7,073 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in ASML by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 9,759 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $6,764,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062 shares during the period. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC increased its holdings in ASML by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 81,564 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $56,530,000 after acquiring an additional 20,651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vantage Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 53.3% during the fourth quarter. Vantage Investment Partners LLC now owns 53,290 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $36,934,000 after buying an additional 18,523 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

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.

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