ASML Holding N.V. $ASML Shares Sold by Country Trust Bank

Key Points

• Country Trust Bank trimmed its ASML stake by 1.5% in Q4, selling 1,045 shares and ending the quarter with 67,856 shares valued at about $72.6 million (ASML is its 20th largest holding).
• ASML raised its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 (annualized $12.71) with an ex-dividend date of April 27 and payment on May 5, up from the prior quarterly dividend of $1.88 and implying a ~1.0% yield and a 25.1% payout ratio.
• The stock opened at $1,304.01, sits in a 12‑month range of $578.51–$1,547.22 with a market cap of $512.8B and a P/E of 50.5, and analysts give an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $1,482.50.

Country Trust Bank decreased its holdings in ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 67,856 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after selling 1,045 shares during the quarter. ASML accounts for about 1.3% of Country Trust Bank's holdings, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Country Trust Bank's holdings in ASML were worth $72,596,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Portside Wealth Group LLC raised its holdings in ASML by 17.9% in the 4th quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC now owns 2,365 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $2,530,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its holdings in ASML by 384.4% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 155 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $166,000 after purchasing an additional 123 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in ASML by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC now owns 379 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $405,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Guild Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in ASML in the 4th quarter worth about $212,000. Finally, Leo Wealth LLC acquired a new position in ASML in the 4th quarter worth about $1,978,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company's stock.

ASML Price Performance

NASDAQ:ASML opened at $1,304.01 on Tuesday. ASML Holding N.V. has a 12 month low of $578.51 and a 12 month high of $1,547.22. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,391.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,191.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firm has a market cap of $512.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.88.

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 given a $3.1771 dividend. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. 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 (DPR) is currently 25.10%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on ASML shares. Barclays reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Santander lowered ASML from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, KGI Securities set a $1,415.00 price objective on ASML and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target 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.

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