ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 1.5% - Here's Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price rose 1.5% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $756.27 and last traded at $753.92. Approximately 450,972 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 73% from the average daily volume of 1,670,774 shares. The stock had previously closed at $742.78.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on ASML. Barclays reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, May 19th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ASML currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $906.00.

ASML Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $296.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.74. 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 firm has a 50-day moving average price of $693.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $710.28.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.12 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $8.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.90 billion. ASML had a return on equity of 47.73% and a net margin of 26.78%. On average, analysts forecast that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ASML. Cim LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 8.9% in the first quarter. Cim LLC now owns 2,641 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $1,750,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Bank grew its stake in shares of ASML by 27.1% in the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 1,288 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $853,000 after buying an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Invst LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ASML in the 1st quarter worth approximately $386,000. Modern Wealth Management LLC increased its position in ASML by 19.2% during the 1st quarter. Modern Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,807 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,861,000 after buying an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in ASML by 12.7% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 8,407 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $5,571,000 after buying an additional 947 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by 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.