ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Up 2.1% – Time to Buy?

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) shares shot up 2.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $1,051.81 and last traded at $1,036.31. 1,615,437 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 3% from the average session volume of 1,659,552 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,015.43.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays restated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. HSBC restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Friday, October 17th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on ASML from $1,105.00 to $1,140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Finally, Evercore ISI restated an “outperform” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,171.83.

ASML Trading Up 2.1%

The company has a market cap of $407.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.87. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,042.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $883.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 1.31.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 15th. The semiconductor company reported $6.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.27 by $0.14. ASML had a return on equity of 47.74% and a net margin of 27.08%.The business had revenue of $8.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $5.28 EPS. The business’s revenue was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that ASML Holding N.V. will post 25.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 29th were issued a $1.857 dividend. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.86. This represents a $7.43 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 29th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is 25.80%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of ASML by 1.0% in the third quarter. HBK Sorce Advisory LLC now owns 1,057 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,067,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the period. Albion Financial Group UT increased its position in ASML by 27.8% in the 3rd quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 46 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the period. Global Assets Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of ASML by 2.3% during the third quarter. Global Assets Advisory LLC now owns 452 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $438,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in ASML by 4.2% in the third quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 247 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC grew its position in ASML by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 345 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.07% of the company’s stock.

ASML Company Profile

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies.