ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Down 4.4% on Analyst Downgrade

Shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) were down 4.4% during trading on Tuesday after Zacks Research downgraded the stock from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating. The company traded as low as $1,329.03 and last traded at $1,360.94. Approximately 1,956,581 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 1% from the average daily volume of 1,944,237 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,423.54.

ASML has been the topic of a number of other reports. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. KGI Securities set a $1,415.00 target price on ASML and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of ASML from $1,450.00 to $1,650.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, ASML currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,475.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ASML. Worthington Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of ASML during the fourth quarter valued at $536,000. Pure Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in ASML by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC now owns 929 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $994,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares during the last quarter. OCONNOR A Distinct Business Unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,140,000. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group grew its position in ASML by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 958 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,028,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SHP Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of ASML in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $254,000. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1,342.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,098.50. The company has a market cap of $538.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.00, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.88.

ASML Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be paid a dividend of $3.1771 per share. This represents a $12.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.10%.

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.