ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading 3.1% Higher - Time to Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report)'s stock price was up 3.1% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $644.69 and last traded at $644.12. Approximately 462,758 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 71% from the average daily volume of 1,622,763 shares. The stock had previously closed at $624.69.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on ASML shares. DZ Bank raised shares of ASML from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on ASML from $860.00 to $840.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price target on ASML from $1,100.00 to $965.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $906.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $687.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $707.51. The firm has a market cap of $266.45 billion, a PE ratio of 32.56, a P/E/G ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.99.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 16th. The semiconductor company reported $6.31 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.90 billion. Research analysts forecast that ASML Holding will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Monday, April 28th will be issued a $1.5855 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 28th. This is a boost from ASML's previous dividend of $1.08. ASML's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.48%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Kennebec Savings Bank grew its stake in ASML by 227.3% during the fourth quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 36 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Putney Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 322.2% during the 1st quarter. Putney Financial Group LLC now owns 38 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC boosted its position in ASML by 740.0% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 42 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Albion Financial Group UT raised its position in ASML by 133.3% in the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 56 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.