ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 1% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• ASML's stock price increased by 1% to $696.95, with a significant drop in trading volume, down 79% from average levels, highlighting investor caution.
• The company has received varying ratings from analysts, with an average target price of $923.80 and a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy."
• ASML announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.856, representing a yield of 1.1%, which reflects its commitment to returning value to shareholders.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 1% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $698.97 and last traded at $696.95. Approximately 375,842 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 1,761,968 shares. The stock had previously closed at $689.82.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASML has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Sanford C. Bernstein initiated coverage on ASML in a research report on Tuesday, June 17th. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $806.00 target price for the company. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on ASML from $840.00 to $890.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. DZ Bank lowered ASML from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, New Street Research raised ASML from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, ASML presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $923.80.

ASML Trading Up 1.2%

The company has a market capitalization of $274.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $762.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $726.28.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The semiconductor company reported $4.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.94 by ($1.39). The business had revenue of $8.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.72 billion. ASML had a net margin of 26.95% and a return on equity of 49.47%. The business's revenue was up 23.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.01 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 29th will be paid a $1.856 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 29th. This is a positive change from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.64. This represents a $7.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.17%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Putney Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 322.2% in the first quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 153.8% in the second quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 33 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new position in ASML in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in ASML by 129.4% in the second quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 39 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Maseco LLP purchased a new position in ASML in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other 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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.