ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 4% - What's Next?

Key Points

• ASML shares jumped about 4% Monday, trading as high as $1,400.39 and last at $1,369.62 on volume ~6% above the average, after closing the prior session at $1,317.25.
• Wall Street sentiment is broadly positive with an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,475 (breakdown: 2 Strong Buy, 21 Buy, 6 Hold, 2 Sell), while several firms have recently raised ratings or targets.
• ASML substantially raised its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 (from $1.88), implying an annualized payout of $12.71 and a yield of about 0.9%, with an ex-dividend date of April 27 and payment on May 5.

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Get Free Report) shot up 4% on Monday . The stock traded as high as $1,400.39 and last traded at $1,369.62. 1,975,682 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 6% from the average session volume of 1,866,009 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,317.25.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ASML has been the subject of several research reports. Zacks Research cut ASML from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Susquehanna restated a "positive" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Monday, January 12th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of ASML from $1,092.00 to $1,331.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Barclays upgraded shares of ASML from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,475.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $538.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.04, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,393.14 and a 200 day moving average of $1,152.43.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business 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. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. This represents a $12.71 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a boost from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML's payout ratio is presently 25.10%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,484,949 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $4,798,268,000 after buying an additional 132,353 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in ASML by 17.3% in the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,919,154 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $3,791,982,000 after acquiring an additional 577,448 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in ASML by 16.6% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,148,506 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $2,079,948,000 after acquiring an additional 305,435 shares during the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC raised its position in ASML by 24.9% in the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,933,748 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,861,445,000 after purchasing an additional 385,502 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in ASML by 8.3% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,865,254 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $1,805,733,000 after purchasing an additional 142,763 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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