ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Gap Down – Here’s What Happened

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:ASML) shares gapped down prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $1,368.36, but opened at $1,293.86. ASML shares last traded at $1,323.2920, with a volume of 888,079 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on ASML shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded ASML from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of ASML from $1,450.00 to $1,650.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Berenberg Bank restated a “buy” rating on shares of ASML in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have given a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $1,475.00.

ASML Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.26. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $1,348.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,100.37. The stock has a market cap of $523.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 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 given a $3.1771 dividend. This represents a $12.71 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 27th. This is a positive change from ASML’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.88. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 41.83%.

Institutional Trading of ASML

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Telos Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in ASML by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Telos Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,850 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock worth $10,504,000 after buying an additional 463 shares in the last quarter. Regents of The University of California acquired a new position in ASML during the 3rd quarter worth $413,335,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in shares of ASML in the third quarter worth $680,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of ASML by 4.1% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 990,816 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $959,180,000 after purchasing an additional 38,660 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of ASML by 34.5% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 15,583 shares of the semiconductor company’s stock valued at $15,086,000 after purchasing an additional 4,001 shares in the last quarter. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ASML Company Profile

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.