ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 2.6% – Here’s What Happened

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) rose 2.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $1,371.00 and last traded at $1,360.09. Approximately 2,314,961 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 6% from the average daily volume of 2,178,629 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,326.07.

Key Stories Impacting ASML

Here are the key news stories impacting ASML this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stronger end-market demand: TSMC announced higher, AI-focused capital expenditure plans, which lifted demand expectations for ASML’s EUV tools and helped push the stock up. TSMC capex lifts ASML
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: UBS reaffirmed a “buy” rating on ASML, signalling continued brokerage confidence in the company’s growth trajectory and valuation premium. UBS reaffirms buy
• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations/analyst sentiment: Zacks lists ASML among top-ranked tech names likely to beat Q4 estimates, which can lift near-term sentiment ahead of results. Zacks earnings preview
• Positive Sentiment: Structural moat reinforced: The Financial Times explains why neither Asia nor the U.S. has produced an ASML rival, underscoring the company’s long-term competitive advantage in EUV technology and pricing power. FT on ASML moat
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings calendar: ASML is expected to report quarterly results on Wednesday — a routine catalyst that could increase volatility depending on guidance and order intake. Earnings timing
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive comparison: A Zacks piece compares Applied Materials and ASML, highlighting different technology exposures (patterning vs. packaging/tools); useful for relative valuation and allocation decisions but not an immediate catalyst. AMAT vs ASML
• Neutral Sentiment: ETF flows/exposure: ASML is a notable holding in semiconductor and ESG-focused ETFs, which can provide steady passive demand but is not a direct earnings driver. (MarketBeat ETF coverage)
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/geopolitical risk: A Dutch think tank urged blocking U.S. access to EU markets and restricting ASML exports — highlighting ongoing geopolitical/regulatory risk that could pressure order flows or export permissions if acted upon. Think tank calls for export limits

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ASML has been the subject of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of ASML from $1,275.00 to $1,518.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, October 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Friday, January 16th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “positive” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, ASML has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,392.75.

ASML Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.31. The stock has a market capitalization of $534.90 billion, a PE ratio of 55.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.86. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $1,113.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $951.54.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 17.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,919,154 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,791,982,000 after buying an additional 577,448 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in ASML during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $505,510,000. Regents of The University of California purchased a new position in ASML in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $413,335,000. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its position in ASML by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,933,748 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,861,445,000 after buying an additional 385,502 shares during the period. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in shares of ASML by 75.6% in the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 790,869 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $765,632,000 after acquiring an additional 340,518 shares in the last quarter. 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.