ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Down 1.3% – Here’s Why

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML)’s stock price dropped 1.3% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $733.56 and last traded at $743.56. Approximately 388,742 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 1,815,296 shares. The stock had previously closed at $752.98.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on ASML shares. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of ASML from $815.00 to $767.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on ASML from $790.00 to $860.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. DZ Bank raised shares of ASML from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on ASML from $1,148.00 to $1,100.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas began coverage on ASML in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. They set an “outperform” rating and a $858.00 price target for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $937.00.

ASML Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $296.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $726.48 and a 200 day moving average price of $764.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.99.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.67 by ($0.37). ASML had a net margin of 26.78% and a return on equity of 47.73%. On average, equities analysts expect that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 11th will be paid a $1.5855 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 11th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.83%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of ASML by 5.4% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,044 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,703,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the period. Carnegie Investment Counsel lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 5.5% in the third quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 1,260 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,050,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. grew its stake in ASML by 24.5% during the third quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 61 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. lifted its stake in ASML by 11.6% in the 3rd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 838 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC grew its holdings in ASML by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 763 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $636,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About ASML

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.