Capital International Investors Buys 577,448 Shares of ASML Holding N.V. $ASML

Key Points

• Capital International Investors increased its ASML stake by 17.3% in Q3, buying 577,448 shares to hold 3,919,154 shares (about 1.00%) valued at roughly $3.79 billion.
• ASML raised its quarterly dividend to $3.1771 (up from $1.88), implying a $12.71 annualized payout and a 0.9% yield, with an ex-dividend date of April 27.
• Wall Street’s consensus is a “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $1,475; the stock trades at a PE of 52.57 and a market cap of about $533.85 billion.

Capital International Investors grew its stake in shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML - Free Report) by 17.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 3,919,154 shares of the semiconductor company's stock after buying an additional 577,448 shares during the quarter. Capital International Investors owned approximately 1.00% of ASML worth $3,791,982,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ASML. Regents of The University of California bought a new stake in ASML during the 3rd quarter worth $413,335,000. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 24.9% during 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 in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 6.3% during the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,244,254 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $3,401,304,000 after purchasing an additional 250,934 shares in the last quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 32.4% during the second quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 413,280 shares of the semiconductor company's stock worth $331,198,000 after purchasing an additional 101,041 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP increased its stake in shares of ASML by 1,638.6% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 75,928 shares of the semiconductor company's stock valued at $60,848,000 after buying an additional 80,863 shares during the period. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Stock Performance

NASDAQ:ASML opened at $1,357.42 on Tuesday. 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 Holding N.V. has a fifty-two week low of $578.51 and a fifty-two week high of $1,547.22. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $1,358.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,113.58. The company has a market capitalization of $533.85 billion, a PE ratio of 52.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.88.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be given a dividend of $3.1771 per share. 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. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 27th. ASML's dividend payout ratio is currently 25.10%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ASML. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "neutral" rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of ASML from $1,550.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on ASML from $1,450.00 to $1,650.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $1,475.00.

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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