ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Down 2.7% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• ASML's stock recently fell by 2.7% to $701.79, with trading volume down 47% from its average session.
• Analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for ASML, with a price target of $923.80, despite a recent drop in earnings per share from $5.94 to $4.55.
• The company announced a new quarterly dividend of $1.856 per share, highlighting a positive change from its previous dividend, with an annualized yield of 1.1%.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) traded down 2.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $701.33 and last traded at $701.79. 938,917 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 47% from the average session volume of 1,758,854 shares. The stock had previously closed at $721.45.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASML has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of ASML from $840.00 to $890.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Barclays reiterated an "equal weight" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of ASML from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reissued a "hold" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, July 23rd. Seven investment 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, ASML currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $923.80.

ASML Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 1.43. The stock has a market cap of $271.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.73. The firm's 50 day moving average is $763.17 and its 200 day moving average is $726.77.

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

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.856 per share. This represents a $7.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. This is a boost from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.64. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 29th. ASML's payout ratio is currently 26.17%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Putney Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in ASML by 322.2% during 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 in the last quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in ASML by 153.8% during 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. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new position in ASML during the first quarter valued at $27,000. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in ASML by 129.4% during 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Maseco LLP purchased a new position in ASML during the second quarter valued at $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.