ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Trading Down 0.5% – Time to Sell?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) shares traded down 0.5% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $692.80 and last traded at $696.39. 969,664 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 36% from the average session volume of 1,508,902 shares. The stock had previously closed at $699.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

ASML Price Performance

The business’s 50-day moving average price is $732.73 and its 200 day moving average price is $751.58. The company has a market capitalization of $278.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The semiconductor company reported $7.30 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%. Analysts anticipate that ASML Holding will post 25.17 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASML Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 19th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 11th were given a $1.5855 dividend. This is a boost from ASML’s previous dividend of $1.08. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 11th. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is 31.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ASML by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 922 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $768,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in ASML by 13.0% during the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 1,311 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,092,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC boosted its holdings in shares of ASML by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 55,699 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $46,411,000 after purchasing an additional 4,903 shares in the last quarter. Blue Square Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of ASML by 56.3% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Square Asset Management LLC now owns 2,891 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,409,000 after purchasing an additional 1,041 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP raised its holdings in shares of ASML by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 2,182 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,818,000 after buying an additional 26 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.