ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 2% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Shares rose about 2% on Friday to roughly $1,478 (intraday high $1,502.50); the company has a market cap near $581 billion and a P/E of 57.25.
• Analysts' consensus is a "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $1,482.50 (two Strong Buy, 21 Buy, 6 Hold, 2 Sell), and Sanford C. Bernstein recently boosted its target to $1,971.
• Dividend increased: the quarterly dividend was raised to $3.1771 (from $1.88), annualized $12.71 with a ~0.9% yield; ex-dividend date April 27 and payable May 5.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) was up 2% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $1,502.50 and last traded at $1,478.28. Approximately 1,515,622 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 1,841,530 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,448.64.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

ASML has been the subject of several analyst reports. Grupo Santander lowered ASML to an "underperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Tuesday. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their target price on ASML to $1,971.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to 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 2.0%

The stock has a market capitalization of $581.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a fifty day moving average of $1,388.42 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,197.67. 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 firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be issued a dividend of $3.1771 per share. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a boost from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. ASML's dividend payout ratio is presently 25.10%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of ASML. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. City Holding Co. acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Binnacle Investments Inc lifted its holdings in shares of 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Resources Management Corp CT ADV lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 1,150.0% during the fourth quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 25 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during 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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