ASML Holding N.V. $ASML Holdings Cut by Natural Investments LLC

Key Points

• Natural Investments LLC cut its ASML stake by 25.7% in Q4, selling 1,173 shares to hold 3,399 shares worth $3,636,000, about 0.9% of the fund and its 21st largest holding.
• ASML raised its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 per share (annualized $12.71, yield 0.8%), with an ex-dividend date of April 27 and payment on May 5, up from the prior $1.88 quarterly payout.
• The stock trades with a market cap of about $590 billion and a P/E of 58.1 (52-week range $614.06–$1,547.22), and carries a consensus analyst rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average target of $1,482.50.

Natural Investments LLC lowered its holdings in ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 25.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,399 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after selling 1,173 shares during the period. ASML comprises about 0.9% of Natural Investments LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest holding. Natural Investments LLC's holdings in ASML were worth $3,636,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth about $25,000. City Holding Co. bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Binnacle Investments Inc lifted its holdings in ASML by 78.9% in the second quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 34 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Wealth Watch Advisors INC bought a new position in ASML in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Price Performance

NASDAQ ASML opened at $1,500.20 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization 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 Holding N.V. has a 1 year low of $614.06 and a 1 year high of $1,547.22. The business's fifty day moving average is $1,390.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,208.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.26.

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 0.8%. This is an increase from ASML's previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML's dividend payout ratio is presently 25.10%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ASML shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, January 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on ASML from $1,550.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Barclays reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Susquehanna reissued a "positive" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ASML currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $1,482.50.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.