ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 1.5% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• ASML shares rose 1.5% to $1,500.20 on Monday, trading slightly below average volume and currently sitting above the consensus price target of $1,482.50.
• Analysts give ASML an overall Moderate Buy consensus (2 Strong Buy, 21 Buy, 6 Hold, 2 Sell), with recent buy reissues from Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Barclays.
• ASML significantly raised its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 per share (annualized $12.71, yield 0.8%, ex-dividend April 27), up from the prior quarterly payout of $1.88.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) shares were up 1.5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $1,500.80 and last traded at $1,500.20. Approximately 1,703,476 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 7% from the average daily volume of 1,839,569 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,478.28.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on ASML shares. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, April 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $1,482.50.

ASML Trading Up 1.5%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.26. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,389.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,204.75. The company has a market cap of $590.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.60 and a beta of 1.88.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be issued a dividend of $3.1771 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. This is a boost from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.10%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ASML during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Resources Management Corp CT ADV increased its position in ASML by 1,150.0% in the 4th quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 25 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. City Holding Co. bought a new position in ASML during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, North Star Investment Management Corp. boosted its stake in ASML by 68.8% during the 4th quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 27 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Company Profile

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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