ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 0.8% - Should You Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price traded up 0.8% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $647.66 and last traded at $640.16. Approximately 1,439,309 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 12% from the average daily volume of 1,630,943 shares. The stock had previously closed at $634.93.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on ASML shares. DZ Bank upgraded shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $906.00.

ASML Trading Up 2.2 %

The company has a fifty day moving average price of $694.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $710.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $251.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

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

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 28th will be paid a dividend of $1.5855 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 28th. This is an increase from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. ASML's dividend payout ratio is 27.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. lifted its position in ASML by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 305 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $211,000 after acquiring an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of ASML by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,208 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $2,223,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. Trust Point Inc. lifted its position in shares of ASML by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Trust Point Inc. now owns 606 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $420,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Sunpointe LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Sunpointe LLC now owns 1,114 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $772,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Quarterback LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Quarterback LLC now owns 1,331 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $923,000 after buying an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. 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.