ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 2.1% - Here's Why

Key Points

• ASML shares rose 2.1% to $1,740.99 in Friday trading, despite volume running 44% below the average daily level.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $1,970.33; Bank of America raised its target to $2,345.
• ASML reported quarterly EPS of $8.65 on $10.64 billion in revenue, while paying a quarterly dividend of $2.1507 per share, equal to a 0.5% yield.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) traded up 2.1% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $1,761.31 and last traded at $1,740.99. Approximately 1,062,190 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 44% from the average daily volume of 1,888,373 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,704.37.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Weiss Ratings raised ASML from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Freedom Capital raised ASML from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Bank of America upped their price target on ASML from $2,268.00 to $2,345.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Argus set a $2,100.00 price target on ASML in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Morningstar cut ASML to a "sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $1,970.33.

ASML Price Performance

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $1,767.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,550.38. The stock has a market cap of $684.70 billion, a PE ratio of 54.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.33.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Sunday, June 28th. The semiconductor company reported $8.65 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $10.64 billion during the quarter. ASML had a return on equity of 52.71% and a net margin of 30.11%. Research analysts expect that ASML Holding N.V. will post 44.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 28th were given a dividend of $2.1507 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 28th. This represents a $8.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ASML. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in ASML by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,484,949 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $4,798,268,000 after acquiring an additional 132,353 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in ASML by 6.3% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,641,565 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $2,168,227,000 after purchasing an additional 96,860 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in ASML by 1.2% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,560,256 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $2,060,833,000 after purchasing an additional 19,051 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in ASML by 14.5% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,526,411 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,633,046,000 after purchasing an additional 193,068 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. increased its position in ASML by 4.9% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,282,190 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $2,550,840,000 after buying an additional 59,888 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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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