ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 1.9% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• ASML shares rose about 1.9% to $1,448.64 (intraday high $1,453.55) on lower-than-average volume, and analysts hold a consensus of "Moderate Buy" with an average target of $1,482.50 while some firms raised targets (RBC to $1,625; Wells Fargo to $1,650).
• The company boosted its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 (annualized $12.71), yielding ~0.9% with an ex-dividend date of April 27 and payment on May 5, and a payout ratio of ~25.1%.
• ASML is a large-cap semiconductor equipment leader with a market cap of about $569.7 billion, a P/E of 56.11 and a P/E/G of 1.27, and its 50- and 200-day moving averages (1,388.56 and 1,195.91) indicate an upward trend.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price was up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $1,453.55 and last traded at $1,448.64. Approximately 1,576,659 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 15% from the average daily volume of 1,846,356 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,421.05.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on ASML shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on ASML from $1,550.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on ASML from $1,450.00 to $1,650.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,482.50.

ASML Stock Up 1.9%

The firm's 50 day moving average is $1,388.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,195.91. The stock has a market cap of $569.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Investors of record on Monday, April 27th will be paid a $3.1771 dividend. This represents a $12.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This is a positive change from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML's dividend payout ratio is presently 25.10%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Telos Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in ASML by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,850 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $10,504,000 after acquiring an additional 463 shares during the period. Regents of The University of California purchased a new position in ASML in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $413,335,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in ASML by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 990,816 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $959,180,000 after acquiring an additional 38,660 shares during the period. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in ASML in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $680,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in ASML by 34.5% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 15,583 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $15,086,000 after acquiring an additional 4,001 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. NASDAQ: ASML is a Dutch company that develops, manufactures and services advanced photolithography systems used to produce semiconductor chips. Headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, ASML supplies capital equipment and associated software and services that enable semiconductor manufacturers to pattern the intricate circuits on silicon wafers. The company is widely recognized for its leadership in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography as well as its deep ultraviolet (DUV) platforms used across multiple process nodes.

ASML's product portfolio includes EUV and DUV lithography machines, light sources, imaging optics and control software, together with spare parts, upgrades and field services.

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