ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 3.1% - Here's Why

Key Points

• ASML's shares increased by 3.1% during trading, reaching a last traded price of $712.17, amidst a lower than average trading volume.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on ASML, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price averaging $923.80, highlighting a decline in ratings from Jefferies and DZ Bank.
• The company recently declared a dividend increase to $1.856 per share, reflecting a 1.0% yield and a payout ratio of 26.17%.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) rose 3.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $716.90 and last traded at $712.17. Approximately 850,191 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 52% from the average daily volume of 1,753,198 shares. The stock had previously closed at $690.96.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ASML has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of ASML from $840.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. New Street Research raised shares of ASML from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of ASML from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $923.80.

ASML Trading Up 1.2%

The company's 50-day moving average price is $758.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $725.09. The firm has a market cap of $283.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The semiconductor company reported $4.55 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $5.94 by ($1.39). The business had revenue of $8.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.72 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 49.47% and a net margin of 26.95%. The business's revenue was up 23.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $4.01 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 29th were given a dividend of $1.856 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 29th. This is a boost from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.64. This represents a $7.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.21%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Putney Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 322.2% in the 1st quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 153.8% in the 2nd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 33 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new stake in shares of ASML in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of ASML by 129.4% in the 2nd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 39 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the period. Finally, Maseco LLP purchased a new stake in shares of ASML in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 26.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.