ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 6.7% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Shares of ASML rose 6.7% to about $1,273.88 on Friday, trading as high as $1,282.00 with volume modestly above average.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive after several upgrades—consensus is a Moderate Buy with an average price target of $1,270.67.
• ASML beat EPS estimates ($6.41 vs. $6.27) while revenue slightly missed forecasts, and the company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.857 (annualized $7.43, yield ~0.6%).

Shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) traded up 6.7% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $1,282.00 and last traded at $1,273.88. 2,391,004 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 8% from the average session volume of 2,212,518 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,194.32.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, October 13th. Erste Group Bank upgraded ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, October 10th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised ASML to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,270.67.

ASML Stock Up 6.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $501.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.86. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $1,070.79 and a 200 day moving average price of $921.09.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $6.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.27 by $0.14. ASML had a return on equity of 47.74% and a net margin of 27.08%.The firm had revenue of $8.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $5.28 EPS. The company's revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 29th were paid a dividend of $1.857 per share. This represents a $7.43 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 29th. This is an increase from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. ASML's dividend payout ratio is currently 25.76%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of ASML in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of 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 in the last quarter. City Holding Co. bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth $26,000. Binnacle Investments Inc boosted its stake in ASML by 78.9% during the second quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 34 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in ASML during the second quarter worth $30,000. 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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