ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Stock Price Up 5% – Here’s What Happened

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML)’s share price rose 5% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $1,359.00 and last traded at $1,357.42. Approximately 1,788,208 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 7% from the average daily volume of 1,920,718 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,292.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on ASML. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, February 25th. Santander cut shares of ASML from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of ASML from $1,550.00 to $1,625.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “neutral” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $1,475.00.

ASML Trading Up 5.0%

The company’s 50 day moving average price is $1,352.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,109.20. The firm has a market cap of $533.85 billion, a PE ratio of 52.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

ASML Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 27th will be paid a $3.1771 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This is an increase from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. This represents a $12.71 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. ASML’s payout ratio is 41.83%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ASML

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in ASML by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,484,949 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $4,798,268,000 after acquiring an additional 132,353 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of ASML by 17.3% during the third quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,919,154 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $3,791,982,000 after purchasing an additional 577,448 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 16.6% during the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 2,148,506 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $2,079,948,000 after purchasing an additional 305,435 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of ASML by 24.9% during the third quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,933,748 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $1,861,445,000 after purchasing an additional 385,502 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of ASML by 8.3% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,865,254 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $1,805,733,000 after purchasing an additional 142,763 shares during the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.