ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 5.3% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) traded up 5.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $1,322.41 and last traded at $1,320.83. 1,723,269 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 7% from the average session volume of 1,858,910 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,253.96.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ASML has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Barclays raised ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 26th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. KGI Securities set a $1,415.00 price target on ASML and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded shares of ASML from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,482.50.

ASML Stock Performance

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 company has a fifty day moving average of $1,396.85 and a 200 day moving average of $1,175.78. The stock has a market cap of $519.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.16, a PEG ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.88.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced 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 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 of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. ASML’s payout ratio is presently 25.10%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. J. Derek Lewis & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of ASML during the 4th quarter valued at $437,000. Osbon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in ASML in the 4th quarter worth $218,000. Fund Advisors of America Inc FL bought a new stake in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,430,000. Bawa N Mallick Trust acquired a new position in ASML in the fourth quarter worth about $214,000. Finally, Meadowbrook Advisors Group LLC bought a new position in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter valued at $248,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Company Profile

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.