ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 1.4% - Time to Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) shares traded up 1.4% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $704.27 and last traded at $700.07. 437,410 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 1,514,096 shares. The stock had previously closed at $690.21.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Sanford C. Bernstein cut their target price on ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 29th. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $858.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Finally, DZ Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $937.00.

ASML Trading Up 2.8 %

The stock has a market cap of $280.90 billion, a PE ratio of 34.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.54. 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 company's 50-day moving average price is $733.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $740.87.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 11th were paid a dividend of $1.5855 per share. This is a positive change from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 11th. ASML's payout ratio is 31.35%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ASML. Kennebec Savings Bank grew its holdings in ASML by 227.3% during the 4th quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC lifted its position in 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 period. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in ASML in the third quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in ASML in the third quarter worth approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

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.